Trenchant critique: Pakistan opposes US-India nuclear deal

Deal would upset stability in South Asia; Islamabad rejects Delhi’s bid to become permanent UN council member: Aziz

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Tuesday offered a trenchant critique of the ‘operationlisation of the US-India nuclear deal’ and New Delhi’s bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council in its first detailed reaction to US President Barack Obama’s visit to India.

In a statement issued hours after the US president wrapped up his three-day visit, Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan had taken careful note of the statements made and the agreements reached between Washington and New Delhi “on issues having a global and regional impact.”

Washington and New Delhi not only agreed to the controversial nuclear deal but the US President also backed India’s efforts to become member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

In his statement, Aziz warned that the US-India nuclear deal for ‘political and economic expediencies’ would have a detrimental impact on stability in South Asia.  “Pakistan reserves the right to safeguard its national security interests,” he added.

The adviser said Pakistan noted the joint statement issued during the visit which suggested that India was ready for NSG membership and other export control regimes.

“Pakistan is opposed to yet another country-specific exemption from NSG rules to grant membership to India, as this would further compound the already fragile strategic stability environment in South Asia, would further undermine the credibility of NSG and weaken the nonproliferation regime,” he stressed.



He added that Pakistan remains opposed to policies of selectivity and discrimination. “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 Pakistan would continue to maintain its constructive engagement with NSG and other export control regimes to build its case for membership.

Noting that Pakistan, along with a large majority of UN member states, favours a comprehensive reform of the Security Council to make it more “representative, democratic, effective, transparent and accountable,” he strongly opposed any move to grant India permanent membership.

“A country, in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions on matters of international peace and security, such as the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, by no means qualifies for a special status on the Security Council,” he argued.



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“Proposals to add new centers of privilege in the Security Council run counter to these collective objectives of Security Council reform; and have no rationale in this age of democracy, inclusiveness and accountability. Pakistan supports a reformed Security Council that corresponds to the positions and collective interests of all member states, not just a few.”  Aziz also hit back at India and US calling Pakistan to take action against terrorists without any discrimination. “Cooperative and collective actions by all member states are required to effectively tackle the global threat of terrorism. Pakistan is a leading partner of the international community in counter-terrorism. We also expect the same commitment from others.”

He said that Pakistan is also the biggest victim of terrorism, including that sponsored and supported from abroad. “Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism have been widely acknowledged. Pakistan rejects any insinuation or aspersion over its commitment to fight terrorism.”

The adviser reiterated Pakistan’s call on India to bring the planners and perpetrators of the February 2007 Samjhota Express terrorist attack to justice. While underlining importance of Pakistan’s relations with the US, Aziz said Islamabad expects it to play a constructive role for strategic stability and balance in South Asia.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2015.