ISLAMABAD, 3 March 2006 — Pakistan yesterday described an understanding reached between the United States and India on civilian nuclear energy cooperation as an “important relaxation” by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) of its proliferation guidelines.
“The agreement represents an important relaxation by the 44-member NSG of the group’s existing guidelines on transfer of civilian nuclear technology to a state which has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT),” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said.
She said the US-India Nuclear Agreement will be examined by Pakistan in depth. She said Pakistan would also seek similar cooperation with the US, adding that the issue is to be raised during talks with Bush, who is expected in Islamabad late today on a two-day official visit.
“We will talk about this subject with the US president,” Aslam said, adding “we hope the international community will cooperate with fossil fuel deficient Pakistan, which has a fully safeguarded nuclear power generation program. We will accept all appropriate safeguards for nuclear power generation.”
In New Delhi, the US official who negotiated the pact, had earlier said it was “unique” to India and would not be repeated with other countries such as neighbor and rival Pakistan. “What distinguishes India is that India has protected its nuclear technology over the 30 years of the Indian nuclear program — India has not proliferated. Unlike North Korea which has been a major proliferator,” Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told reporters.
“India has brought itself into conformance with all the international guidelines pertaining to nuclear technology, unlike Iran for instance which has been a great violator of those international programs,” he said.
Pakistan is already running two nuclear power plants, one in Karachi and another at Chashma town, some 280 kilometers southwest of Islamabad. Established with Canadian and Chinese assistance, the two plants are producing 137 and 300 MW of electricity. The third power plant, which will generate 300 MW of electricity, is currently under construction at Chashma with Chinese assistance.
Meanwhile, Bush said that the attack in Karachi would not deter him from going to Pakistan. “Terrorists and killers are not going to prevent me from going to Pakistan. My trip to Pakistan is an important trip,” Bush told reporters in New Delhi.
“The bombing that took place prior to my trip is an indication that the war on terror goes on and that free nations must come together to fight terrorism,” said Bush.
Bush said he would hold talks with Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf on the need to step up the US-led “war on terror,” during his first trip to the country. He said Musharraf “has a direct stake in this fight” noting that “four times terrorists tried to kill him.” Asked to characterize the threat level for Bush’s trip to Islamabad, his National Security Advisor Steve Hadley said, “Pakistan is both an ally in the war on terror and, in some sense, a site where the war is being carried out. So there is obviously risks.”
Bush also urged India and Pakistan “to continue making progress on all issues including Kashmir.” “India and Pakistan have an opportunity to work toward lasting peace,” Bush said.
— Additional input from agencies
