ISLAMABAD, Nov 9 (APP): Membership of the Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) is imperative for Pakistan’s recognition as a
responsible nuclear state and access to sophisticated nuclear
technology.
This was stated by Director General Disarmament at the Foreign
Office Kamran Akhtar while speaking at a round-table discussion
organized by Strategic Vision Institute (SVI) on `India’s NSG
Politics’.
The discussion was held on the eve of NSG consultative meeting
(Nov.10) and informal plenary session (Nov 11) being held in Vienna
for deliberations on the membership of non-NPT countries.
The meetings are unlikely to end the stalemate on the issue of
non-NPT states as a group of NSG members are insisting on setting up
criteria for admission of non-NPT countries, whereas some others
want the NPT requirement to be met.
Akhtar was of the opinion that even if Pakistan does not get
admitted into the 48 member cartel controlling the international
nuclear commerce at this stage it should continue its efforts for
inclusion in the group.
“If we don’t get admitted in NSG now, we should not give up
our pursuit. In the longer run we need recognition and access to
technology,” he said and underscored the importance of building a
positive narrative about Pakistani nuclear program instead of it
being just about weapons and war.
He cited examples of Pakistani efforts to cooperate with other
countries on peaceful applications of nuclear energy.
“This would help Pakistan be seen as a contributor to the
achievement of sustainable development goals,” Akhtar said.
The calls by some of the NSG members for developing equivalent
criteria for non-NPT countries, he believed, suited Pakistan as it
was better placed to meet it in terms of coverage of civilian
nuclear facilities, safeguards agreements, and openness to consider
commitment to non-testing of nuclear weapons.
The director general advised that Pakistan should continue
signaling, to the proponents of the criteria based approach, its
willingness to adhere to the deciding factors they agree.
“Only once they are encouraged, they would see some incentive
in pursuing this exercise otherwise they would just give up,” he
observed.
It was in this context that Pakistan earlier this year
proposed to India a bilateral agreement on non-testing of nuclear
weapons. Pakistan has also shown its willingness to accept
safeguards on all future civilian nuclear facilities, besides
considering the possibility of additional protocol.
Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal said US support for Indian candidature
was motivated by its political and strategic interests.
He said despite lack of progress towards consensus, India and
its backers pushed for a second meeting of NSG this year on the
issue to weaken the opposition to Indian candidature, besides
keeping the issue alive.
President SVI Dr Zafar Iqbal Cheema said that India’s alone
entry into NSG would put back Pakistani efforts for developing its
infrastructure and industry by decades. Therefore, he maintained,
such an eventuality would have serious consequences for national
security and economic and industrial development.
He observed that India was one of the worst proliferators, but
Pakistan could not capitalize on it. He recalled that India once had
scornful disdain for non-proliferation regimes, which has now been
conveniently forgotten by the world.
SVI in its recommendations noted that NSG membership was more
than a matter of prestige for Pakistan and was vital for its socio-
economic and technological development.