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Pakistan following nuclear debate in India ‘closely’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Monday it was concerned by statements in New Delhi and United States in the national debate over the India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal asserting that India’s right to carry out nuclear tests remained unaffected by the agreement.

A Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that Islamabad was following the debate “closely”.

“We take seriously the assertion by Indian leadership and in Washington about the possibility of resuming or renewing nuclear tests and this should be a source of concern not just to Pakistan but to the international community, especially when India’s nuclear weapons capability and access to technology and fissile material will be augmented by [the India-U.S. nuclear] agreement,” said spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam.

India’s External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said last week that the agreement did not affect India’s right to carry out a nuclear test, pointing out that the Congress-led government, like the previous Bharitya Janata Party-led government, was restrained only by a unilateral moratorium.

At the weekly Foreign Ministry briefing for journalists, the spokeswoman said Pakistan maintains a moratorium on nuclear tests, and had also proposed a bilateral agreement with India on a test ban.

But nuclear tests by India would create a serious situation and would force Pakistan to review its position and take “action appropriate and consistent with its supreme national interest,” she said.

Australia’s decision to supply uranium to India was also a matter that “warrants close attention”, the spokeswoman said.

“Any development that can impinge on the strategic balance in South Asia is of vital concern to us. Pakistan does not want a nuclear arms race but at the same time we are committed to maintain a credible minimum deterrence,” she said.

She said the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group must consider Pakistan a partner in the global non-proliferation regime, and respond to its energy needs and its plans to develop its own nuclear power plants to meet these requirements.

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