Sartaj Aziz calls on India to bring the perpetrators and planners of 2007 Samjhota Express attack to book. PHOTO: REUTERS
According to a statement from the Adivser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday, he said that Pakistan remains opposed to policies of selectivity and discrimination and warned that “Pakistan reserves the right to safeguard its national security interests.”
He said that the country-specific exemption for India from NSG rules to grant it membership would “further compound the already fragile strategic stability environment in South Asia, would further undermine the credibility of NSG and weaken the nonproliferation regime.”
“Pakistan is not averse to civil nuclear cooperation and NSG membership for Non-NPT states provided it is based on the principles of nondiscrimination and objective nonproliferation criteria,” Aziz said, adding that Pakistan remains opposed to policies of selectivity and discrimination.
“Pakistan would continue to maintain its constructive engagement with NSG and other export control regimes to build its case for membership.”
On terrorism, Aziz said that Pakistan rejects any insinuation or aspersion over its commitment to fight terrorism, given that Pakistan was a leading partner of the international community in counter-terrorism and also the biggest victim of terrorism, including that sponsored and supported from abroad. “Pakistan rejects any insinuation or aspersion over its commitment to fight terrorism. Condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations should not be based on selectivity or double standards.”
“Pakistan reiterates its call on India to bring the planners and perpetrators of the February 2007 Samjhota Express terrorist attack to justice.”
Commenting on Obama’s call for granting India a permanent call on the UN Security Council, Aziz said that the move has ‘no rationale in this age of democracy, inclusiveness and accountability.’
“A country, in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions on matters of international peace and security, such as the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, by no means qualifies for a special status in the Security Council.”
He said that Pakistan supports a reformed Security Council that corresponds to the positions and collective interests of all member states, not just a few.
Aziz said Pakistan expects the United States to play a constructive role for strategic stability and balance in South Asia.
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