Tit-for-tat: Sri Lanka considers nuclear deal with Pakistan
Snubs similar offer by India after New Delhi voted for a resolution on the Tamil issue at the UN.
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.
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.