Pakistan in spotlight at Washington nuclear summit

[sparklingway]

Pakistan in spotlight at Washington nuclear summit
​

Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:32am EDT
By Chris Allbritton

ISLAMABAD, April 11 (Reuters) - Pakistan will confront its reputation as a proliferator head-on this week when its prime minister addresses a global summit in Washington aimed at keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.

Arch-rival India and other critics could however undercut Pakistan by reminding the world of its nuclear smuggling, highlighting the Taliban insurgency and fanning fears of a Muslim country in chaos where militants could seize atomic material.

"India will demand restrictions imposed on Pakistan's nuclear programme," said Shahid-ur-Rehman, a Pakistani journalist and author of "Long Road to Chagai", a book on Pakistan's nuclear programme.

"Their main stress will be on securing Pakistan's nuclear assets by the world," he told Reuters.

"Pakistan's efforts will be to counter that and convince them that our National Command Authority, which oversees the country's strategic assets, is very effective and that our nuclear assets are safe and secure."

Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani will speak at the summit after meeting President Barack Obama on Sunday. There are no plans for Gilani and his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to meet, although the leaders of the nuclear-armed rivals may have a brief "encounter".

Obama called the Nuclear Security Summit to reach a common understanding on the threat posed by nuclear terrorism and an agreement on steps to secure all loose nuclear material within four years to stop it falling into the hands of groups such as al Qaeda.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the April 12-13 gathering of 47 nations is possibly the largest assembly of world leaders in the United States since 1945.

Two countries not on the guest list are Iran and North Korea, both of which are locked in their own nuclear standoffs with the West. And both countries have allegedly benefited from the smuggling network of Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb and a national hero.

PRESSURE

It is this history -- and Pakistan's uncertain future -- that has put the country's nuclear programme in the spotlight this week. Experts say Pakistan's arsenal and stockpile of weapons-grade material represent the area of greatest risk, because of huge internal security threats from the Taliban and al Qaeda.

"Because of Pakistan's so-called past, that there was proliferation from Pakistan and that Pakistani scientists had met Osama bin Laden ... there will be pressure on Pakistan," said Rehman, referring to reported meetings involving two retired Pakistani nuclear scientists before the Sept. 11 attacks.

"America and the West's biggest concern is that weapons of mass destruction should not fall into extremists' hands and, in this case, they seem to be tacitly pointing at Pakistan. India and the anti-Pakistani lobby have always tried to exploit that and they will try to do it again."

Pakistan dismisses that concern, calling it "speculative".

"I do not see any possibility, whatsoever, of Pakistani material, or nuclear technology falling into the wrong hands," a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Abdul Basit, told Reuters.

"India knows full well how secure Pakistan's strategic assets are."

Obama says he's confident in the security of Pakistan's arsenal, but India isn't so sure.

The neighbours have fought three wars since being carved out of colonial India in 1947 and engaged in several smaller conflicts, including one in 1999 that threatened to go nuclear.

Both nations conducted nuclear tests in 1998.

Currently, they have an agreement to share prior information about new missile tests they plan to carry out, as well as an agreement to share details about each other's nuclear facilities and their safety on a periodical basis.

But their armies often exchange fire across the border, and peace talks are held only intermittently.

"There is a lot of mistrust as India keeps on receiving reports of secret (nuclear) installations in Pakistan, and it believes that Islamabad is not sharing all its details," said Naresh Chandra, India's former envoy to Pakistan.

India is aware, however, of Pakistan's importance to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, so it doesn't expect much American intervention between the two on nuclear issues, Chandra added.

There is more at stake in Washington than nuclear one-upmanship between old enemies. Pakistan's economy has been hammered by energy shortfalls and high on its wish-list is a civilian nuclear deal with the United States like the one India received under President George W. Bush.

It has been repeatedly rebuffed by the United States -- although lately more gently -- and media reports in Pakistan suggested China may step up and help with civilian nuclear technology.

That would likely make India even more suspicious because of its own rivalry with China. The two fought a war in 1962.

Washington also would like Pakistan's help in curtailing Iran's nuclear programme, although there appears little chance of that.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, India has between 60-70 warheads while Pakistan has about 60. Neither India nor Pakistan are party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons that Obama hopes to strengthen. (Additional reporting by Kamran Haider and Augustine Anthony; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Source : Reuters

 

[Kompromat]

pak will be in the focus in this meeting,this meeting is held for nuclear terrorism

All Non NPT members would be on Focus inc India.

Turkey is spearheading the calls to discuss Israeli Nukes too !

 

[Kompromat]

Pakistani Nukes are more safer than India's , if we know how to Produce them than we are capable of protecting them too.

 

[sparklingway]

tabhi to saari duniya aap ke peeche hai,world have a doubt on this.i hear every day -->"U.S :need to protect pak nukes from getting in the hands of terrorist"

Stop trolling. Our nukes are protected well and our nuclear scientists don't go missing and they don't turn up dead mysteriously in rivers.

In our case, no individual was responsible for nuclear proliferation. We did barter trades and gained much. Even after such a big backlash, the state was strong enough not to hand over anybody or let anybody face charges anywhere in the world.

PS:- I know that dude was not involved in the weapons program but trolls like you deserve unnecessary jabs.

 

[Kompromat]

gurjot please do not use Urdu / Hindi on forums , it looks unproffessional.

 

[Omar1984]

I hope PM Gilani defends his nation and his people in this summit from all the ill-wishers of Pakistan.

Pakistan comes first. Remember that PM Gilani. If you cant work for Pakistan's interest then resign and give your PM seat to someone who can.

 

[SMC]

Was reading some news about the summit. Looks like Pakistan is doing pretty well. Little to no mention of Pakistan's nukes as being unsafe.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

US wants to see Pakistan as part of solution
​

By Our Correspondent
Sunday, 11 Apr, 2010

WASHINGTON: The United States has urged both India and Pakistan to limit the number of their nuclear weapons and secure their stockpiles, while emphasising that Pakistan needs to be ‘invested’ in the non-proliferation regime rather than being singled out as a violator.

In a speech at the University of Louisville in Kentucky on Friday evening, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton broached this issue rather carefully, noting that the United States and Russia had “so many more weapons than any of the other countries by a very, very big margin”.

And before mentioning the two South Asian nuclear states, she noted that there were other countries that pursued nuclear weapons too.

“India and Pakistan, for example, have done so in a way that has upset the balance of nuclear deterrent,” she said.

“And that’s why we’re working with both countries very hard to try to make sure that their nuclear stockpiles are well tended to and that they participate with us in trying to limit the number of nuclear weapons.”

At a separate briefing, Assistant Secretary of State P. J. Crowley approached the issue of Pakistan’s refusal to endorse the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in a different way, indicating the possibility that the United States would like to see Pakistan included in a new arrangement rather than singling it out as a pariah state.

Mr Crowley, when asked to explain the reasons for inviting Pakistan to the nuclear summit and for Washington’s confidence in Islamabad’s commitment to non-proliferation, argued that the US “wants to see Pakistan be part of the solution in the future”.

“We’ve had significant discussions with Pakistan on these issues. But if we’re going to strengthen the non-proliferation regime going forward, we want to see Pakistan invested in this process,” he stressed.

“And to the extent that other countries demonstrate through their cooperation with the international community that they are willing to assume that same responsibility, then the door would be open for further cooperation,” the spokesman added.Both statements – important on their own – assume a greater significance because of a two-day nuclear summit US President Barack Obama inaugurates in Washington on Monday.

A total of 47 countries, including India and Pakistan, are attending the conference, which focuses on stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and on preventing terrorists from acquiring nuclear materials.

In her speech, Secretary Clinton indicated that the participation of India and Pakistan in the nuclear summit provides the United States with an opportunity to discuss both the issues — proliferation and nuclear terrorism — with them.

Her decision to talk about both India and Pakistan — despite a US nuclear deal with New Delhi — indicates a realisation in Washington that singling out Islamabad on an issue of such a strategic importance to both will send negative signals and harm US interests in the region.

Also while talking about nuclear terrorism, she avoided naming any country. Instead, she described nuclear terrorism and proliferation as a challenge confronting the entire international community. “A challenge that is bigger than any one administration or any political party. It is protecting our families, our neighbours, our nation and our allies,” she observed.

Mr Crowley went a step ahead, expressing confidence in Pakistan’s ability to protect its atomic programme. While doing so, he also highlighted Islamabad’s cooperation in shutting down the A. Q. Khan network, coupled with the safeguards put in place for its strategic assets.

“Pakistan recently has demonstrated a willingness to help the international community shut down the A. Q. Khan network. We still have questions about that and we still pursue those with Pakistan,” he said.

The US official said that Dr Khan’s activities had made Pakistan a source of concern in the past, but since then Islamabad had “demonstrated that it can secure its own nuclear weapons programme, and we have confidence in the steps that Pakistan has taken”.

DAWN.COM | Front Page | Nuclear debate: US wants to see Pakistan as part of solution

============

Engagement to resolve issues is almost always better that isolation, especially when the side being engaged is interested in mutually beneficial outcomes as a result of engagement.

 

[BlackSonic]

Stop trolling. Our nukes are protected well and our nuclear scientists don't go missing and they don't turn up dead mysteriously in rivers.

In our case, no individual was responsible for nuclear proliferation. We did barter trades and gained much. Even after such a big backlash, the state was strong enough not to hand over anybody or let anybody face charges anywhere in the world.

PS:- I know that dude was not involved in the weapons program but trolls like you deserve unnecessary jabs.

Yes, who cares about non-proliferation when the state is strong enough to defend itself and its scientists.


Yar...positive sochne ki bhi had hoti hai.....

 

[blain2]

Yes, who cares about non-proliferation when the state is strong enough to defend itself and its scientists.


Yar...positive sochne ki bhi had hoti hai.....

Proliferation is a moving target. Those who advocate it have had their fun with proliferation as and when it was needed. I am sure the world will get over Pakistan's limited case of proliferation after delaying things due to national biases and self interest.

 

[xenia]

Gilani on mission to seek N-status
WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who arrived in Washington on Sunday afternoon to attend a two-day nuclear summit, launched Pakistan’s campaign for international acceptance as a responsible nuclear state soon after his arrival.
Pakistan’s opponents are equally determined to deny the much-coveted status to Islamabad, with India taking a lead in this effort. And the United States finds itself engaged in a delicate balancing act between the two South Asian states.

The Obama administration, which gathered 47 world leaders from across the globe for the summit, has two major concerns: the spread of nuclear weapons and the possibility that such weapons may reach non-state actors.


Prime Minister Gilani got into action soon after his arrival, heading straight to his first meeting with US President Barack Obama. “The prime minister is arguing for Pakistan’s acceptance as a responsible nuclear state at every opportunity he gets, from his meeting with Mr Obama to his speech at the summit,” a senior Pakistani diplomat told Dawn. The summit begins on Monday.

washington: prime minister yousuf raza gilani, who ar- rived in washington on sunday afternoon to attend a two-day nuclear summit, launched pakistan’s campaign for interna- tional acceptance as a responsible nuclear state soon after his arrival. pakistan’s opponents are equally determined to deny the much-coveted status to islamabad, with india taking a lead in this effort. and the united states finds itself engaged in a del- icate balancing act between the two south asian states. the obama administration, which gathered 47 world lead- ers from across the globe for the summit, has two major con- cerns: the spread of nuclear weapons and the possibility that such weapons may reach non-state actors. prime minister gilani got into action soon after his arrival, heading straight to his first meeting with us president barack obama. “the prime minister is arguing for pakistan’s accept- ance as a responsible nuclear state at every opportunity he gets, from his meeting with mr obama to his speech at the summit,” a senior pakistani diplomat told dawn. the summit begins on monday.

Dawn Report

 

[ramu]

Pakistani Nukes are more safer than India's , if we know how to Produce them than we are capable of protecting them too.

Lets not get speculative. Sounds like Pakistan knows to produce them but India just bought them from some unknown weapons market !

 

[sparklingway]

National statement on nuclear security regime
Pakistan stresses sustained dialogue with India, CBMs

Tuesday, April 13, 2010
By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has stressed the need for substantive, structural and sustained dialogue with India on all issues including confidence-building measures (CBMs), saying the need for it now is ‘more than ever’.

The announcement has come in a national statement issued on the start of nuclear security summit here Monday. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani who is leading Pakistan’s delegation presented the statement in the summit in which Pakistan has proposed the setting up of a strategic restraint regime in South Asia, which would promote nuclear and missile restraint, a balance in conventional forces, and conflict resolution. “We have concluded with India risk reduction and confidence-building measures which include a hot line, prior notification of ballistic missile tests, and an agreement on reducing the risk of accidents relating to nuclear weapons”.

The statement said: “Today a robust command and control system is in place, which protects our strategic assets against theft, diversion, and accidental or unauthorised use. The NCA, the apex decision-making body, chaired by the prime minister of Pakistan, makes all major decisions regarding nuclear policy, planning, use and security. Within this overall framework, the SPD develops technical solutions, personnel and human reliability programmes, and intelligence capabilities to deal with nuclear security, non-proliferation, accidents and WMD terrorism.”

It says Pakistan’s nuclear programme has been security conscious right from the beginning. “Since its inception, we had imposed tight measures for nuclear security. After the nuclear tests of 1998, these measures were further institutionalised into an elaborate and effective nuclear security regime.”

Pakistan believes that all nations, including those in South Asia, should work closely for security, development and prosperity. All nations should pursue this goal on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual trust, and mutual respect.

“Pakistan’s nuclear programme is security-driven. It was an existential choice we made to deter aggression, prevent war and to defend ourselves. Our objective has been development of a minimum credible nuclear deterrent. We are against an open-ended arms race in South Asia. We have always tried to maintain peace and security in South Asia at the lowest levels of armaments.”

The national statement states: “Pakistan’s nuclear security regime has four pillars: One, a well defined command and control system comprising the National Command Authority, the Strategic Plans Division, and the Strategic Forces Command, exercises strict control over all aspects of policy, procurement, operations and, most importantly, nuclear security. Two, strict regulatory regimes covering all matters related to nuclear safety and security, including physical protection of materials and facilities, material control and accounting, transport security, prevention of illicit trafficking and border controls, as well as plans to deal with possible radiological emergencies; three, an extensive export control regime and four, international cooperation, consistent with our national policies and interests as well as international obligations”.

“Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), an autonomous oversight body, regulates the safety and security of civilian nuclear materials and facilities. It works closely with IAEA on safety and security issues and benefits from its recommendations and guidance”, the statement said.

It announced that “the National Nuclear Security Action Plan (NSAP), being implemented by the PNRA in collaboration with IAEA, encompasses several aspects of nuclear security including physical protection, prevention of illicit trafficking, management and security of radioactive sources and response to unauthorised acts involving nuclear and radioactive material. It has trained more than 1000 personnel from relevant national organisations in various aspects of nuclear security. It also collaborates with Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences to run a Master’s programme in nuclear engineering with specialisation in nuclear security. Under the plan, Pakistan has established national nuclear security emergency coordinating centre and a network of six emergency-response mobile labs. We have equipped strategic entry and exit points with radiation detection equipment for prevention and detection of illicit trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials”, the statement added.

“Our export control laws are at par with the standards followed by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and the Australia Group (AG), as well as European Union Guidelines. The jurisdiction of the 2004 Export Control Act, which has a ‘catch all’ clause, extends to the entire territory of Pakistan and all citizens whether at home or abroad. Severe punishments under the law include up to 14 years’ imprisonment, heavy fines and confiscation of assets. It also covers offences falling in the category of illicit transfer of intangible technology such as services, training, and advice. To ensure consistent implementation of the law, an interagency Strategic Export Control Division (SECDIV) and an oversight board have been established in the ministry of foreign affairs,” the statement said.

The statement reminded that Pakistan’s nuclear programme has been security conscious right from the beginning. “Since its inception, we had imposed tight measures for nuclear security. After the nuclear tests of 1998, these measures were further institutionalised into an elaborate and effective nuclear security regime. Pakistan believes that all nations, including those in South Asia, should work closely for security, development and prosperity. All nations should pursue this goal on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual trust, and mutual respect”.

The statement claimed that Pakistan has maintained the highest standards for non-proliferation. “When problems surfaced we addressed them definitively and kept the international community informed. Pakistan has been working with, and reporting to, the UNSCR 1540 Committee. Pakistan is a party to the Nuclear Safety Convention, Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and the Convention on Assistance in case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency. We subscribe to the IAEA code of conduct on safety and security of radioactive sources and participate in the IAEA illicit trafficking database. This relationship has been highly productive for Pakistan and IAEA”.

The statement said: “Pakistan joined the Container Security Initiative in 2006 and has been observing the exercises of Proliferation Security Initiative. Pakistan’s participation in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) underlines our commitment to become a partner in the international efforts against contemporary global challenges.”

The well-worded and well-meaning statement that was skilfully laid down said, “Pakistan has more than thirty-five years of experience in running nuclear power plants. With trained professional manpower and a strong nuclear safety and security culture, Pakistan fully qualifies for participation in civil nuclear cooperation at the international level. We urge all relevant forums to give Pakistan access to nuclear technology for peaceful uses, in a non-discriminatory manner, to meet its growing demand for energy”. “We welcome the renewed international interest in nuclear power generation to meet the challenge of climate change. As a country with advanced fuel cycle capability, Pakistan is in a position to provide nuclear fuel cycle services under IAEA safeguards, and to participate in any non-discriminatory nuclear fuel cycle assurance mechanism,” the statement said.

It assured the world that Pakistan is strongly committed to nuclear security. It would continue to refine and modernise its technical and human resources and mechanisms on safety and security of nuclear weapons, nuclear materials, facilities and assets. Pakistan would cooperate with the global community in accordance with its national policies and requirements as well as international obligations.

Paying tribute to the initiative the statement said that Pakistan welcomes the initiative taken by President Barack Obama to convene a Nuclear Security Summit (NSS). The initiative is timely and raises awareness about nuclear security, which is a common global concern. It gives primacy to an issue that requires attention at the highest level. Pakistan believes that this summit will act as a catalyst for fostering a nuclear security culture. Pakistan has keenly promoted this culture. Pakistan welcomes President Obama’s call for security of nuclear material, it further added.

“At this summit, we reaffirm our commitment to the objective of strengthening nuclear security and to stop terrorists from gaining access to nuclear or radiological materials for terror. Nuclear security within a state is a national responsibility. Within this framework, the international community must continue to explore space for cooperation in nuclear security which subsumes measures to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism,” they statement added.

It said that currently the international regime dealing with nuclear security is quite extensive ranging from the measures taken by the IAEA and the United Nations to several initiatives that have been taken in the recent past. We do not need new or parallel mechanisms for cooperation on nuclear security or to address the threat of terrorism. But we do need better coordination amongst different initiatives. Moreover, faithful application of the widely agreed standards and provision of matching assistance, where necessary and acceptable, can equip international community with more effective tools to strengthen nuclear security and prevent nuclear terrorism.

The statement said that the summit enables us to look at the bigger picture and synergise the work of international forums and partnerships to strengthen the security of nuclear materials and prevent possible acts of terrorism. Our main objective is to share, on a voluntary basis, expertise and experiences in nuclear security, to learn from best practices, to share information and intelligence, in a non-binding, non-prescriptive manner to enhance capabilities to fight nuclear terrorism, and to enhance capacities to respond to nuclear security incidents.

The summit has kept a sharp focus on nuclear security and has avoided going into the areas of non-proliferation and disarmament, which are being discussed at other relevant forums. It also recognises that nuclear security measures should not infringe on the nations’ right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including the production, transfer, use and exchange of nuclear materials for peaceful purposes,” the statement concluded.