Serious consequences of the US waiver to
India- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The US Administration has sought a waiver from the US Congress for the
implementation of US-India Agreement on Civilian Nuclear Cooperation.
The grant of the waiver as a special case will have serious implications
for the security environment in South Asia as well as for international
non-proliferation efforts. The objective of strategic stability in South
Asia and the global non-proliferation regime would have been better served
if the United States had considered a package approach for Pakistan and
India, the two non-NPT Nuclear Weapons States, with a view to preventing
a nuclear arms race in the region and promoting restraints while ensuring
that the legitimate needs of both countries for civilian nuclear power
generation are met.
The history of the nuclear development in South Asia
shows that Pakistan had pursued the nuclear option only after India tested
a nuclear device in 1974. Pakistan needed to restore the disturbed balance
and was compelled to respond when India again tested in 1998. By establishing
nuclear deterrence, Pakistan has ensured peace and stability in South
Asia as was proven by subsequent events especially in 2002. Following
the resumption of the Composite Dialogue in 2004, it remains Pakistan’s
objective to avoid arms race, promote restraints, reduce risk and maintain
the nuclear deterrent at the minimum credible level.
The proposed exception for India will not be helpful
to the shared objectives of stability in South Asia and a strong global
non-proliferation regime. The Agreement, which keeps a large number facilities
and reactors including breeder reactors outside safeguards, would only
encourage India to continue its weapons programme without any constraint
or inhibition. On its part Pakistan would not accept any discriminatory
treatment. While we will continue to act with responsibility in maintaining
minimum credible deterrence and to avoid an arms race, we will neither
be oblivious to our security requirements, nor to the needs of our economic
development which demand growth in the energy sector including civilian
nuclear power generation.
Pakistan’s civilian nuclear power reactors are
totally covered by the IAEA safeguards including the spent fuel produced
by these reactors. Our future nuclear power generation reactors will also
be under safeguards. We expect all the NSG member countries to be sensitive
to Pakistan’s energy needs and extend cooperation in the civilian
nuclear sector.
Islamabad
17 March 2006
|
