Pakistan Demands Universal Policy on Nuclear Technology Trade

Pakistan Demands Universal Policy on Nuclear Technology Trade
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani yesterday urged international organizations and nuclear-equipped countries to establish consistent requirements for other nations seeking civilian nuclear technology, the Press Trust of India reported (see GSN, May 27).

The 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group last year endorsed a U.S.-backed proposal to permit nuclear trade with India even though New Delhi has maintained a nuclear arsenal outside the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (see GSN, Sept. 8, 2008). The Bush administration ruled out making a similar exception for Pakistan, home to one-time nuclear scientist and proliferator Abdul Qadeer Khan (see GSN, July 31, 2007).

A new, universal policy on nuclear technology transfers should respect the right of all nations "to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," a key principle of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Gilani said. "It should not remain a privilege and prerogative of a chosen few."

"While supporting the objectives of nonproliferation, it is our firm belief that the developing and small nations must be given unhindered access to nuclear energy for civilian purposes because they need it more than the developed nations to grapple with the issues of poverty, deprivation and backwardness," Gilani said.

Pakistan only pursued nuclear weapons in response to the nuclear activities of longtime rival India, he added, stressing that Islamabad's nuclear program is "purely of defensive nature" (Press Trust of India/Indian Express, June 22).
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20090623_8664.php