World

France-India nuclear deal: Pakistan sees serious strategic implications

Abdul Basit says there should be criteria for all countries to have access to the civilian nuclear technology.

Kamran Yousaf December 07, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed concerns over the civilian nuclear deal between France and India, saying the move has ‘serious strategic implications’ for the region.

The Foreign Office spokesperson said there should be criteria for all countries to have access to the civilian nuclear technology.

“Creating exception for India is not only a step backwards in terms of promoting peaceful nuclear cooperation but it also has security implications for the region,” Abdul Basit told The Express Tribune here.

Pakistan believes that the selective approach of Western countries to provide civilian nuclear technology can create imbalance of power in the subcontinent.

“In view of these agreements, Indian military nuclear facilities will have more nuclear fuel and this is certainly a cause for concern to us,” cautioned an official, who is part of the country’s nuclear establishment.

Pakistan has been seeking civilian nuclear technology since long from the powerful countries, including the US.

However, its request hasn’t yet been heeded by the Western nuclear suppliers, as they question Pakistan’s track record.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (9)

Raj | 13 years ago | Reply Why are so many nations interested in doing business with India? Because they see a mutual benefit. When they invest in India, they get value for their money and guaranteed return on investment.They know that Indians are progressive, skilled and more importantly, they are concerned about improving their living standards. India has been focusing its attention on higher education, science & technology, IT and high-tech sectors. Nuclear suppliers know that no one but the Indian government is the real boss and in complete control of all nuclear resources, be it weapons or reactors. So they trust the government that there will be no scope for proliferation. There is lot of scope for us to improve but we continue to grow. On the contrary, why is no nation interested in doing business with Pakistan? Because no one expects any real value in return from Pakistan. Whatever limited capability and skills Pakistan has, it spends all of it developing military might and nuclear weapons. How does a huge military and large number of nuclear weapons give a better life to a common man in Pakistan? To add to the woes, extremist forces and Islamic militants always are a constant threat, which deters foreign investors and civilian nuclear technology. If only the Pakistani leaders realized that real development lies in uplifting the standards of the people and not just having hundreds of weapons, Pakistan will become an investment friendly country. Pakistan is virtually surviving on American aid just because there is a small hope that Pakistan will help the war on terror. The day the US stops giving food, medical and other essential supplies to Pakistan, its economy is sure to collapse.

zaheer | 13 years ago | Reply Kamal ,then I fear the world is soon going to allow india pakistan fight where pakistan is going to die and india going to live after that. end result whole pakistan future in heaven .In earth it would be given another name.

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Kamal | 13 years ago | Reply G.Din...Bajpai visited Lahore and talked about new begining..result??pakistani military was sharping its kniefe for Kargil..The core issue is Kashmir..you can'nt live without it and we are ready to die for it..

G. Din | 13 years ago | Reply @Rajat "...I too feel Pak should get similar nuclear deals, so that progress can take place in both countries, leading to peaceful co-existance." What prevented progress and peaceful coexistence BEFORE this nuclear deal?

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply Pl keep expressing your concerns and complianing about "Strategic implications". India keeps signing contracts

Rajat | 13 years ago | Reply How can a power plant have security implications, i cannot fathom. I dont think US, France, Canada etc are so naive, to allow the enrichment of this nuclear fuel that they are providing to create warheads. There would be hundreds of checks and each and every gram of nuclear fuel would be under scrutiny. So i guess Pakistan should stop worrying. I too feel Pak should get similar nuclear deals, so that progress can take place in both countries, leading to peaceful co-existance.

Ashwin | 13 years ago | Reply What about your NON-State actors?

Ahmer Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.How much more times advanced Western countries shall deceive and fool Pakistan by just giving hopes and doing promises of developments in technological and nuclear sector?And surprisingly our leaders feel happy and rejoice just on the hopes and promises.Getting nuclear deal from France by Indian government shows that in the sight of advanced Western countries Pakistan is only their strategic,front line partner and friend to elevate terrorism and against it there are only hopes and promises for Pakistan and for the non-muslim countries greatest packages in the field of nuclear technology whereas Pakistan has given the sacrifices of its troops to eliminate terrorism and still giving till now.Why our corrupt and NRO certified leaders don't understand this advanced Western countries' philosophy and prejudicial attitude of transfer of nuclear technology to the non-muslim countries generously or perhaps don't want to understand intentionally and why our corrupt and beggars leaders don't create unity and solidarity with Pakistan's true,sincere and honest friends to get civil nuclear technology for Pakistan's and Pakistani nation's real and true prosperity,betterment,welfare and security?Why they are still relying on advanced Western countries' hopes and promises in other words relying on broken reeds?When our corrupt leaders shall wake up from the dreams of carelessness?When they shall stop day dreaming and star gazing?When they shall leave imaginary life given them from the advanced Western countries in the forms of hopes and promises only?

zigzag | 13 years ago | Reply Who cares about the implications. Stop whining like a child.. No one listens to you or cares about your foreign policy. Everyone wants to do a business with India. France wants do a business with India and you can't. No one cares, the imbalance is going to create in South Asia, This Pakistani government is a total waste.

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