Pak now has right to seek nuclear deal: Gilani
“Now that the civil nuclear deal with India has been finalised, Pakistan will have the right to ask for a similar deal because we do not want there to be any discrimination.” Said prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Yousaf Raza Gillani soon after the Indo-US nuclear deal was approved by the US Senate today. “We want there to be no discrimination. Pakistan will also strive for a nuclear deal and we think they will have to accommodate us”, He added.
The U.S.-India deal allows American businesses to sell nuclear fuel, technology and reactors to India in exchange for safeguards and U.N. inspections at India’s civilian, but not military, nuclear plants. Asked if Pakistan would seek nuclear technology and know-how from China, Gilani said Beijing and Islamabad had a “unique relationship” that was a “time-tested and all-weather friendship”. China has always been helping Pakistan. Pakistan and China have finalized in August 2006 landmark accord on nuclear energy cooperation, under which Islamabad will acquire 6 Chinese nuclear reactors. The nuclear energy cooperation deal with China has brought great solace to Pakistan, as the United States is not willing to extend such cooperation to Pakistan. With Chinese cooperation, Pakistan would build six new nuclear reactors in next 10 years having capacity of 2,000 megawatts. This was part of Pakistan’s plan to increase the capacity of N-power generation to over 8,000 megawatts by 2025. China has already helped Pak build a nuclear reactor of 350 megawatts at Chashma and it was currently building one more at the same place with the same capacity.
Pakistan and India have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. Pakistan became a nuclear power in 1998 by testing devices in response to the underground tests done by India. The crumbling economy and the concept balance of power situation in region; has leaded to a chaotic situation. There are pending issues like Kashmir between India and Pakistan. A peace process is going on between both countries. However this Deal has the potential of disturbing regional stability and further distorting India’s relationships with important neighbours like China, Pakistan and Iran.
Press Trust of India has reported that The US Congress today put its stamp of approval on the controversial Indo-US nuclear deal when the Senate overwhelmingly voted a Bill rejecting all the killer amendments, paving the way for the implementation of the historic initiative between the two countries. With today’s Senate vote, the deal is now ready for signing by US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice when she arrives in New Delhi on her rescheduled trip on Saturday with External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. However in India there is an opinion against this deal. Indian Intelligentsia has been raising voices that this The Indo-US deal on nuclear issue is un-democratic and being imposed upon India against the public will. Now the government of India is trying to erase out India’s nuclear deterrent against Pakistan as well by saying that without this Indo-US nuclear deal, there will be no future development of the nuclear energy in India.
Thus Pakistan and India both have premonitions regarding this deal; India thinks it will belittle India’s Nuclear capability. Indians have feared that it has aimed at the elimination of India’s ability to produce any nuclear weapons and nothing to do with power generation. Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), India through a back door with devastating consequences for India’s immediate future.
While Pakistan Thinks it will destabilize the balance of power in the region with support from USA and France; Pakistan will be sidelined, thus it should also have deal with US; if not approved then China..
Input from Agencies
Popularity: 1% [?]
Loading ...
