ID :
14513
Fri, 08/01/2008 - 07:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14513
The shortlink copeid
Pakistan undecided on Indo-US N-deal ahead of IAEA meeting
Rezaul H Laskar Islamabad, Jul 31 (PTI) Pakistan Thursday kept the suspense over whether to push for a vote at Friday's crucial meeting of I.A.E.A. Board of Governors when it considers theIndia-specific safeguards agreement for approval.
Apparently unsure of how much support Pakistan would get, its Foreign Ministry is yet to take a decision on any move to press for a vote amid reports that the US has impressed upon Islamabad not to put any roadblocks in the safeguards pactgetting I.A.E.A.'s clearance.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's(I.A.E.A.) Board of Governors is due to take Friday the India-specific safeguards agreement, a vital step to operationalise theIndo-US nuclear deal.
One reason for this, sources said, is whether Pakistan will be able to muster adequate support in the 35-memberBoard of Governors of the Vienna-based UN body.
There are very few Arab countries or other states that have traditionally been friendly with Pakistan in the Board of Governors. This has led to doubts about whether Pakistan couldwin if it pressed for a vote , the sources said.
Any loss in a vote pushed for by Pakistan would beembarrassing for the country, the sources said.
Pakistan is opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal, describing a draft of the India-specific safeguards agreementas "discriminatory and dangerous".
Pakistan has also demanded a similar deal from the US, saying the agreement could alter the strategic balance inSouth Asia and trigger a fresh nuclear arms race.
"There should be no preferential (treatment), there should be no discrimination. And if they want to give civilian nuclear status to India, we would also expect the same for Pakistan too," Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani tolda gathering in Washington on Tuesday.
Pakistan has been facing pressure from the US not to block the way of the operationalisation of the Indo-US nucleardeal at the IAEA.
This is believed to be one of the issues that came up for discussions during Gilani's meetings with top US leadersduring his maiden visit to Washington.
Some reports have also suggested that a recent US move to upgrade Pakistan's F-16 fleet at a cost of USD 305 million is part of an arrangement to ensure that Pakistan does notoppose the safeguards agreement at the IAEA.
Pakistan has also pointed out that Indian nuclear facilities to be brought under safeguards have not been listed in the annexure of the agreement. It has demanded that IAEA's secretariat should have incorporated the facilities in theagreement before the Board of Governors met.
Apparently unsure of how much support Pakistan would get, its Foreign Ministry is yet to take a decision on any move to press for a vote amid reports that the US has impressed upon Islamabad not to put any roadblocks in the safeguards pactgetting I.A.E.A.'s clearance.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's(I.A.E.A.) Board of Governors is due to take Friday the India-specific safeguards agreement, a vital step to operationalise theIndo-US nuclear deal.
One reason for this, sources said, is whether Pakistan will be able to muster adequate support in the 35-memberBoard of Governors of the Vienna-based UN body.
There are very few Arab countries or other states that have traditionally been friendly with Pakistan in the Board of Governors. This has led to doubts about whether Pakistan couldwin if it pressed for a vote , the sources said.
Any loss in a vote pushed for by Pakistan would beembarrassing for the country, the sources said.
Pakistan is opposed to the Indo-US nuclear deal, describing a draft of the India-specific safeguards agreementas "discriminatory and dangerous".
Pakistan has also demanded a similar deal from the US, saying the agreement could alter the strategic balance inSouth Asia and trigger a fresh nuclear arms race.
"There should be no preferential (treatment), there should be no discrimination. And if they want to give civilian nuclear status to India, we would also expect the same for Pakistan too," Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani tolda gathering in Washington on Tuesday.
Pakistan has been facing pressure from the US not to block the way of the operationalisation of the Indo-US nucleardeal at the IAEA.
This is believed to be one of the issues that came up for discussions during Gilani's meetings with top US leadersduring his maiden visit to Washington.
Some reports have also suggested that a recent US move to upgrade Pakistan's F-16 fleet at a cost of USD 305 million is part of an arrangement to ensure that Pakistan does notoppose the safeguards agreement at the IAEA.
Pakistan has also pointed out that Indian nuclear facilities to be brought under safeguards have not been listed in the annexure of the agreement. It has demanded that IAEA's secretariat should have incorporated the facilities in theagreement before the Board of Governors met.
