Missile proliferation: Pakistan’s preventive efforts lauded

Multilateral export control regime appreciates international standard compliance.

ISLAMABAD:

A multilateral export control regime has appreciated the steps taken by Pakistan to prevent the proliferation of missiles and nuclear-related technology, according to an official statement.

The foreign ministry stated that Pakistan hosted a delegation of the Missile Technology Control Regime for two-day talks which concluded on Wednesday.

The delegation was led by its current chairman, Ambassador Joerg Ranau of Germany, and included the two incoming chairs, Ambassador Carlo Trezza of Italy and Ambassador Roald Naess of Norway. The Pakistan side was headed by Additional Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

The Missile Technology Control Regime is a multilateral export control arrangement consisting of 34 members, aimed at controlling the proliferation of missiles and related technology through the implementation of certain export control guidelines.

The foreign office statement said the delegation appreciated the steps taken by Pakistan for bringing its export controls at par with the best international standards.

Both sides exchanged views on a broad range of issues and agreed to continue their interaction in future.

Earlier this month, Pakistan held talks with a delegation of the Australia Group in Islamabad, led by the United Kingdom. The group is a forum of 40 industrialised countries that seeks to use licensing measures to ensure that exports of certain chemicals and biological agents are not used for the spread of chemical and biological weapons.

Islamabad also attended a trilateral meeting with the chairmanship troika of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, led by the United States, which was hosted by Turkey in Ankara in January.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21^st, 2013.