India’s second vote against Sri Lanka on the Tamil issue at the UN human rights council in March this year upset the country. PHOTO: FILE.
Sri Lanka is considering a nuclear pact with Pakistan after India voted against it at the UN this year, the Hindustan Times reported on Sunday.
According to the report, the Sri Lanka government is dragging its feet on a similar pact with India by not scheduling talks despite New Delhi’s keenness to conclude the agreement soon.
India had offered Sri Lanka a comprehensive nuclear pact that would deal with all aspects of civil nuclear cooperation, including safety and training of professionals. One round of talks was held in October last year, and India also sent Sri Lanka a draft of the pact.
No further development has taken place since and New Delhi has been waiting for a Lankan response on dates for talks.
The report cites sources as saying that foreign secretary-level talks between Sri Lanka and Pakistan have identified civil nuclear technology as a major area of cooperation. Statements made by Lankan authorities show their intent to negotiate nuclear deals with both India and Pakistan, it adds.
India’s second vote against Sri Lanka on the Tamil issue at the UN human rights council in March this year upset the country. Of the 25 countries that voted against Sri Lanka, only India and South Korea were from Asia. Thirteen members, including Pakistan and China, voted against the resolution and eight abstained. India had voted against Sri Lanka in 2012 as well.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2013.
COMMENTS (35)
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@Sridhar:
Don't spread misinformation. The only Indian Tamils who are 'reacting' with one voice" are the few anti-India LTTE elements and their supporters in India. As for "India is bound to look after the interest of the tamils", that is none of India's business to meddle in the internal affairs of a neighboring country unless there is a huge impact on India itself.
As for any nuclear cooperation between Pakistan and SL, it is all just talk. Pakistan itself has to beg china for nuclear energy technology and plants. What is it that Pakistan going to supply SL other than illicit nuclear bomb design. Sri Lanka is not interested in acquiring nuclear weapons.
Srilanka (SL) is a small "tear drop" island only 25 miles off. Its majority population has been ethnically cleansing the Tamil population in its country. This has big repurcussions as India's tamil population are reacting with one voice. India is bound to look after the interest of the tamils. SL can get help from Pakistan but its enmity with India is not in its interest in the long run. The enmity is its own making. It did not offer a "reconciliation" to tamils as Nelson Mendela did to the whites in S.Africa. Rajapakshe is no Mandela. At best he is an egoistic megalomaniac who is being wrongly advised.
.@Indi: Its only since 9/11, Pakistan progress lacked behind India on per capita basis. Moving forward, only few years of peace in Pakistan can easily wipe out this current gap of standard of living. But this is small talk.... fact remains that India who proudly claims 66 years of democratic rule against political turmoil in Pakistan but still sadly created of class of around half a billion people who lives under 2 dollars a day income. I sincerely pray that India do accomplish its goals of eradicating poverty so as Pakistan which should not be difficult given wealth of natural and human assets available to both countries
Immaturity of pro India and pro Pakistan comments reveal only ONE thing: . They are ditto copies of each other, doesn't matter how much 'we are better' mantra both have. . Both have too much time to spat rubbish on net/youtube etc. Not a sign of someone who is doing well!!!
@Truth: but Srilanka pakistan bhai bhai and all these blah blah will never work out in real sense
My dear, it has proven “worked” with "Tamil Tigers"
@chandana attunga:
"What the Indians are doing with us, on one hand they favor the resolution in UN against our country on the other hand they are looking for nuclear agreement with us. "
You have to look up the meaning of the word 'double standard' in a good dictionary. Because you don't know what it means.
I was against India voting in the UN.
However, there is no double standard. You oppose the wrong and support the right. What is double standard in that?
The Sri Lankans never learn, do they? After the fiasco of playing test cricket in Pakistan they were nearly blown off by terrorists who are still to be caught. Why on earth would they trust Pakistan now? They should perhaps play cricket in the Land of the Pure and judge the situation. I am afraid countries like England, India and Australia and unlikely to ever play in Pakistan again. They may play in Lahore or Karachi or Multan but at that time it may be part of India or an independent state. In any case Pakistan's rapid downfall which we are witnessing is soon to be over. Sri Lanka may have to go to North Korea. Thats the reality.
@Rajesh: you said it man ....you said it.
Aha Now I understand...why Gen Kayani visited SriLanka recently ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ And made some mumbo jumbo statements .... For Srilankans: Pakistani know how comes bundled with Taliban:)
@N.Usmani: true...but 1 is on its way to cut poverty by half till 2015 .....and other fails to meet all mdg goals :D
Maybe Pakistan should give its Haft 5 DUD Missile to Sri Lanka. Even if India is surrounded on all sides with Nuclear Rivals, still collectively they cannot pressurise India to come on table on Kashmir or on border disputes with China, etc. etc... ! Today India is far more stronger and capable to have 2 front war. Pakistan on the other hand forming nexus hiding its weakness and humiliating defeats from the past.
It is shame to read immature comments from pro-Indian and pro Pakistani readers. Together both of these countries represent 2/3rd of world poverty. Both countries per capita incomes are 1/3rd of world average income. They are the poorest of the poor countries. Instead of cooperating/ trading and improving their country citizen's welfare they still choose to invest in weapons and allow mass corruption. Both side claims that they are somehow superior or fortunate than the other.... not admitting they are the same
Guys, you need to relax. Firstly, it is just a news article. Not an official declaration by Sri Lanka. World politics are not dependant on how the news editors analyse it. It is still too early to say anything about it, it is just speculations. Secondly, India's stand on the Tamil minority issue in Sri Lanka has been the same for decades. Still both countries have had good diplomatic ties. Tamilians living in Sri Lanka are living a miserable life and it is the only reason behind India's stand on the Tamil issue. There is no actual enmity between India & Sri Lanka. Tamil issue is a minor diplomatic issue, it does not interfere between trade relations of the two countries. Thirdly, if you guys even cared to read the whole news article properly, it clearly says "India had offered Sri Lanka a comprehensive nuclear pact that would deal with all aspects of civil nuclear cooperation, including safety and training of professionals." The pact does not help India much except for having better relations with SL. India is self-reliant in nuclear capabilities of both civilian as well as military nature. The pact benefits Sri Lanka greatly as India is offering to train SL nuclear facility executives and researchers. Lastly, it would be better if all you readers stop behaving like immatures and understand what the news article is actually saying and stop making it an anti-India issue. If you care to think actually, Sri Lanka's civilian nuclear cooperation pact with India is still a bigger, real possibility compared to it forming a deal with Pakistan. Because, although Pakistan's military and ruling elites are spending alot on making nuclear weapons, they have utterly failed to make use of nuclear technology for the development of Pakistan. There's also the big corruption factor in government policies. Pakistan itself is still depended on China for its nuclear-related power generation capabilities and it is far from achieving the desired results itself. India on the other hand, not only has a big nuclear power-infrastructure for last 50-60 years, but it also has been a big local trading partner of Sri Lanka for years. Pakistan has not achieved that yet.
@ModiFied: That will be great especially when Mayor of Kabul leaves and Afghani students take over.
You can't build you own power plants so exactly what "nuclear deal" can Pakistan offer?
Pakistan could not able to survive itself, but they are talking about Nuclear deals with srilanka.Neither they have the technology,economy or resources to finance such a pact with other countries.They could not even able to build a mini dam to produce electricity, instead to get help from all weather friend.They are living in heaven !
@Xnain: If that is the case then why you chinese worried about indian involvement in Vietnam!
First provide electricity for citizens who faces many hour cuts of electricity. Where your nuclear power gone . Its like a blind who show to way to a person. @Dajjal:
@ModiFied: u better call it India-Taliban Nuclear deal! lol
@chandana attunga: Then send your cricket team to play in Pakistan in times of their need. And don't ever come to India.
Pakistan is only the sales person.The owner of the store and the inventory is the Peoples Republic of China .
@Truth: I really feel for the Indians. Continuously being fed the propaganda of "World revolves around India" most of our eastern friends don't even see a needle moving in Asia without India being involved in it. Srilanka is a sovereign country, it has every right to do business with anyone it wants. I mean you can make all the whining you want, but Srilanka is not a state of India.
Sri Lanka Pakistan nuclear deal will be followed by India Afghanistan nuclear deal. This might include 10-20 Indian nuclear missiles based in Afghanistan.
@BruteForce: Keep dreaming!!!
@Truth: A tiny ant can wreak havoc in an elephant's trunk. Don't ever underestimate your enemy because of their size. Just because you are 600 pounds does not mean you are healthy.
It just goes to show that India has conflicts with all its neighbours let alone Pakistan and China. Trying to achieve global and regional hegemony can only got his far.
Always most welcome Sri Lanka.......
Huh? Why not North Korea? Why Pakistan?
Even if we assume that Pakistan has the tech to do controlled nuclear fission, after 2014 there is a good chance Pakistan will be sanctioned for a variety of reasons, like with Iran. Its not a smart move to depend on Pakistan for anything beyond 2014.
How can you do a pact with the nation who has destroyed country and instigated the minority against the majority? India has been fueling war in Srilanka for the better part of last 2 decade.
Action speaks louder than words, Pakistan has been supporting Srilanka on all fronts and on all International Forums.
Unlike India, who is covertly working against all the countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka and now doing the border issues with China.
I think it will be good for Srilanka to work with Pakistan, China and other countries.
Dream on, srilanka can never ever consider India as there hostile neighbour. Its a tiny island in Indian ocean and Colombo port survival is based on Indian goods.Ofcourse we have differences with them, but Srilanka pakistan bhai bhai and all these blah blah will never work out in real sense.
What the Indians are doing with us, on one hand they favor the resolution in UN against our country on the other hand they are looking for nuclear agreement with us. Look at the double standards of indian government. It’s far better to deal nuclear pact with Pakistan which has supported our nation difficult times.
@Dajjal "we can also provide blueprints for centrifuges which can be used for enriching plutonium/uranium, and we can also provide blueprints for a nuclear warhead, along with delivery system".
Then you yourself and Sri Lanka will be inviting national suicide
A deal with Pakistan is better as we provide a more comprehensive package, not only can we provide nuclear technology for power generation, we can also provide blueprints for centrifuges which can be used for enriching plutonium/uranium, and we can also provide blueprints for a nuclear warhead, along with delivery system. If you want to hand carry these nukes, we can provide bad ideology and a suicide bomber to carry out all kinds of devastating mission. Its a win win for Sri Lanka....