The new United States legislation on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal seeks to cap Islamabad's nuclear capabilities, a retired Pakistan army officer has claimed.

Retired Brig Naeem Salik, a Pakistani nuclear expert working at Washington's Brookings Institution, said while the deal was a bilateral agreement, it does seek to cap Pakistan's nuclear capabilities besides that of China.

He referred to section 103B (1) of the bill, which says that the US should try to 'achieve at the earliest possible date, moratorium on the production of fissile material for nuclear explosive purposes by India, Pakistan and People's Republic of China.'

'If India is required to do something in return for what it is getting from the US, it is understandable. Why should Pakistan and China be required to place moratorium on their programmes? What are they getting in return?' he was quoted as saying by Dawn.

Salik, former director for disarmament at Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division, said most restrictions placed in the bill on India were 'suggestive, there is nothing binding. No certification required.'