NEW DELHI (IRNA) -- The U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice said on Friday night that nuclear deal between Washington and Islamabad is not possible at this juncture as there were "concerns" over Pakistan's proliferation record.

"Everyone knows that there have been concerns in terms of proliferation with Pakistan. Pakistan itself is aware of it. We are working with Pakistan to improve on proliferation", Rice told in an interview to a private Indian news channel "Zee News".

Asked whether the U.S. could sign a nuclear deal with Pakistan as it did with India when President George W. Bush visits that country, she said "this is not a stage Pakistan is currently in. This is not the time for such an arrangement with Pakistan."

However, Washington considered Pakistan and President Pervez Musharraf as a "tremendous ally" in the war on terrorism, we must fight terror more robustly. We are working with Musharraf in areas which are largely ungoverned. Pakistani army and its frontier forces are fighting Al Qaeda more actively."

Parrying a question on the Iran-India gas pipeline, Rice said both India and the U.S. were very dependent on hydrocarbons for energy supplies and President Bush now favored allowing all countries to have "clean nuclear energy and civilian nuclear power, regardless of what happens to the pipeline."

Observing that India "has an excellent nuclear proliferation record", the top U.S. official said the civilian nuclear arrangement signed today allowed New Delhi to be "part of the international consensus about nuclear non-proliferation."

"It allows India to approach the International Atomic Energy Agency for inter-specific safeguards for civilian nuclear program", Rice said, adding it would also open the way for cooperation in civilian nuclear program for energy supplies. Asked about India's efforts to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, she said "we understand India's aspirations."

However, the reforms in the Security council should be carried out in the context of broader reforms in the United Nations, especially in its management, creation of a peace-building committee and reforming the Human rights committee.