"We would like the developed countries, especially the Western countries and the United States, to extend cooperation to Pakistan for peaceful uses of nuclear energy," foreign ministry spokesman Naeem Khan told a briefing.

Without mentioning India, Khan said his country needed to meet its energy requirements through peaceful use of nuclear technology.

However Islamabad's appeal came as France agreed to help India develop its nuclear power plans, and less than two weeks after Washington lifted curbs on six Indian nuclear facilities.

Pakistan is a key US ally, but the international community has been alarmed by last year's revelation that the so-called father of its nuclear weapons programme, Abdul Qadeer Khan, passed secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.

India, in contrast, has been reaping rewards for apparently meeting international nuclear standards.

In July, US President George W. Bush and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after talks in Washington announced plans to cooperate on developing India's civilian nuclear energy program.

The decision was a departure from the US prohibition of nuclear assistance to countries that do not allow international monitoring of all atomic facilities, as required by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The US ambassador to New Delhi said in an interview published on September 2 that India was a "unique" non-proliferation case, adding that the US was dropping its curbs on the six Indian facilities.

French President Jacques Chirac announced the latest help for India after a meeting in Paris with Singh on Monday.

Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman Khan said his country's civilian nuclear facilities could be inspected by the UN nuclear watchdog and that Islamabad would accept "all safeguards" for additional facilities.

"Our expectation is that as our friend China has extended cooperation to Pakistan in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the West and the United States will also appreciate the expanding requirements of Pakistan and would extend cooperation in this regard," he said.

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