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The United States has called on Pakistan to offer specifics on its nuclear power plant development deal with China, Asian News International reported today (see GSN, Sept. 23).
"We have asked Pakistan to provide details about the nuclear pact with China," U.S. special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said. "It is yet to be seen what international requirements [the] Pak-China nuclear pact fulfills," the Nation reported him as saying.
Washington has suggested Beijing must obtain Nuclear Suppliers Groups clearance to build two new 300-megawatt reactors in the South Asian state's Chashma nuclear site. As it developed strategic weapons outside the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Islamabad has been cut off from most atomic trade.
China argues that it did not need approval from the atomic exporter nations as its work at the Chashma site predates its membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Both Beijing and Islamabad have said the deal would meet the International Atomic Energy Agency's nonproliferation requirements.
High-level Pakistani diplomats and defense officials met this week with Obama officials in Washington for a third round of strategic talks (see GSN, Oct. 20).
Holbrooke said the two sides discussed Islamabad's wish for a bilateral nuclear civilian trade agreement with Washington, similar to the deal India received in 2008. The United States has played down the potential for a deal that would give Pakistan access to U.S. nuclear materials and technology.
"We are well aware of the Pakistani strategic goal and desire. It's one of the many things we have talked about frankly in private with our friends in Pakistan," Holbrooke said (Asian News International/Sify.com, Oct. 22).
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20101022_4628.php
"We have asked Pakistan to provide details about the nuclear pact with China," U.S. special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said. "It is yet to be seen what international requirements [the] Pak-China nuclear pact fulfills," the Nation reported him as saying.
Washington has suggested Beijing must obtain Nuclear Suppliers Groups clearance to build two new 300-megawatt reactors in the South Asian state's Chashma nuclear site. As it developed strategic weapons outside the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, Islamabad has been cut off from most atomic trade.
China argues that it did not need approval from the atomic exporter nations as its work at the Chashma site predates its membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Both Beijing and Islamabad have said the deal would meet the International Atomic Energy Agency's nonproliferation requirements.
High-level Pakistani diplomats and defense officials met this week with Obama officials in Washington for a third round of strategic talks (see GSN, Oct. 20).
Holbrooke said the two sides discussed Islamabad's wish for a bilateral nuclear civilian trade agreement with Washington, similar to the deal India received in 2008. The United States has played down the potential for a deal that would give Pakistan access to U.S. nuclear materials and technology.
"We are well aware of the Pakistani strategic goal and desire. It's one of the many things we have talked about frankly in private with our friends in Pakistan," Holbrooke said (Asian News International/Sify.com, Oct. 22).
http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20101022_4628.php
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