ID :
25931
Wed, 10/22/2008 - 09:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/25931
The shortlink copeid
India to watch possible Sino-Pak nuclear cooperation
Anil K Joseph
On Board PM's Special Aircraft, Oct 21 (PTI) India
Tuesday indicated that it would watch any possible nuclear
cooperation between close allies China and Pakistan,
especially whether they were honouring their obligations under
the non-proliferation regime.
The actual situation is that Pakistan has announced China
will build two new reactors at Chashma, but Beijing has not
officially confirmed it nor did it feature in the joint
statement issued at the end of President Asif Ali Zardari's
maiden state visit there, a senior official told reporters
accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Japan.
"This is the factual position," he said when asked to
comment on new Sino-Pakistan nuclear ties.
If China and Pakistan have decided to go ahead with the
reported two reactors, the official said, they may have to
undergo safeguards agreement.
"We need to see whether they are keeping with their own
obligations (as per their commitment under non-proliferation).
We have to see what they will do," he said.
At the same time, the official expressed surprise that
Beijing has kept mum on the issue and has not denied the
announcement made in Islamabad by Pakistani Foreign Minister,
Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
"We have to see how it works," he said, clearly puzzled
that Beijing is keeping studied silence on the possible
nuclear deal with Pakistan.
Commenting on China's apparent efforts to block a
consensus on the India-specific waiver at the Nuclear
Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) meeting, the official said that
nothing of that sort had happened.
"Why flog a dead horse?" he quipped ahead of Singh's
scheduled meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the
sidelines of the 7th A.S.E.M. Summit in Beijing from October
24-25.
"It is over. I don't vouch for what happened in the room
(at the N.S.G.). We were not involved," he said, emphasising
that New Delhi knew that Beijing would back it on the waiver.
"If the Chinese had backed out, you won't have a
consensus at the end (in N.S.G.)," he said, adding that what
happed at the end mattered.
On Board PM's Special Aircraft, Oct 21 (PTI) India
Tuesday indicated that it would watch any possible nuclear
cooperation between close allies China and Pakistan,
especially whether they were honouring their obligations under
the non-proliferation regime.
The actual situation is that Pakistan has announced China
will build two new reactors at Chashma, but Beijing has not
officially confirmed it nor did it feature in the joint
statement issued at the end of President Asif Ali Zardari's
maiden state visit there, a senior official told reporters
accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Japan.
"This is the factual position," he said when asked to
comment on new Sino-Pakistan nuclear ties.
If China and Pakistan have decided to go ahead with the
reported two reactors, the official said, they may have to
undergo safeguards agreement.
"We need to see whether they are keeping with their own
obligations (as per their commitment under non-proliferation).
We have to see what they will do," he said.
At the same time, the official expressed surprise that
Beijing has kept mum on the issue and has not denied the
announcement made in Islamabad by Pakistani Foreign Minister,
Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
"We have to see how it works," he said, clearly puzzled
that Beijing is keeping studied silence on the possible
nuclear deal with Pakistan.
Commenting on China's apparent efforts to block a
consensus on the India-specific waiver at the Nuclear
Suppliers Group (N.S.G.) meeting, the official said that
nothing of that sort had happened.
"Why flog a dead horse?" he quipped ahead of Singh's
scheduled meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the
sidelines of the 7th A.S.E.M. Summit in Beijing from October
24-25.
"It is over. I don't vouch for what happened in the room
(at the N.S.G.). We were not involved," he said, emphasising
that New Delhi knew that Beijing would back it on the waiver.
"If the Chinese had backed out, you won't have a
consensus at the end (in N.S.G.)," he said, adding that what
happed at the end mattered.
