Featured Pakistan reaffirms commitment to N-test ban treaty

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Pakistan reaffirms commitment to N-test ban treaty

Envoy urges UN to address key motivations that drive states to possess nuclear weapons


APP
August 28, 2020

UNITED NATIONS: Reiterating its support for the objectives of the nuclear test-ban treaty, Pakistan has reminded the international community of its voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing since 1998, despite regional security threats.

“Pakistan remains committed to the goal of a nuclear weapon-free world,” Ambassador Muhammad Aamir Khan, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan, told a virtual meeting held at UN Headquarters in New York.

The meeting came ahead of the International Day against Nuclear Tests, observed annually on 29 August since 2010. August 29, marks the anniversary of the 1991 closure of the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan, the largest nuclear test site in the former Soviet Union.

The Pakistani representative said that Pakistan had made several proposals to keep South Asia free of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery, following the first nuclear tests in South Asia in 1974, but regretted none of them met a favourable response.

“Pakistan was not the first to conduct a nuclear test in South Asia and would not be the first to resume testing”, he told delegates from around the world. “Despite regional security threats, Pakistan has maintained a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing since 1998.”
Ambassador Khan added that these tangible measures were a demonstration of “Pakistan’s commitment to the objectives and purposes of the CTBT” [Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty].

Pakistan had been voting in favour of the annual CTBT resolution in the General Assembly’s First Committee, which deals with disarmament and international security matters. Pakistan is also an accredited observer state of the CTBT Preparatory Committee.

Khan urged the international community to address the key motivations that drove states to possess nuclear weapons. These include threats from larger military forces – both nuclear and conventional; existence of longstanding disputes with more powerful states and the failure of the UN to implement its own resolutions to resolve such disputes; the failure of the UN collective security system to deter aggression and military threats and discrimination and selectivity in the application of international norms and standards.
These legitimate motivations, the Pakistani representative added, were “different from those of states that retained nuclear weapons as a matter of prestige, either to maintain or to attain the status of a global power”.

Pakistan reaffirms commitment to N-test ban treaty | The Express Tribune

Envoy urges UN to address key motivations that drive states to possess nuclear weapons

tribune.com.pk

 

[Morpheus]

As long as india continues to exist, we will not give up our nuclear weapons.

 

[Samlee]

CTBT May Be OK But No To NPT

 

[ghazi52]

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CJCSC Gen Raza says 'unnecessary views' on Pakistan's nuclear programme should be avoided​

Naveed Siddiqui
June 6, 2022

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza speaking at a seminar in NUST, Islamabad. – Photo by ISPR

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) General Nadeem Raza on Monday said "unnecessary and unfounded views" on Pakistan's nuclear programme should be avoided, adding that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear power.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), his comments came during a keynote address delivered at a seminar on "Regional Environment and Imperatives of Security" at the NUST Institute of Policy Studies (NIPS) in Islamabad.

The seminar was attended by students, academics and distinguished experts from different parts of the country, the ISPR said.

Commenting on the regional security environment, General Raza, who is also the deputy chairman of the National Command Authority (NCA), reiterated the significance of Pakistan’s nuclear capability as the guarantor of deterrence and defence of Pakistan.

"Pakistan’s nuclear programme enjoys across-the-board support of all political parties and the people of Pakistan. The NCA, with all its political and military leadership, stands firm for the strategic programme," he said.

He asserted that national security is indivisible and assured that under no circumstances shall Pakistan allow a compromise on its nuclear program.

"Pakistan is a confident and responsible nuclear power. It pursues the policy of full-spectrum deterrence within the precincts of credible minimum deterrence. Our national security and safety architecture meets all national and international obligations and caters for all kinds of scenarios."

He went on to say that as a norm in other nuclear-capable nations, "unnecessary and unfounded views on the strategic program should be avoided".

"When necessary, NCA is the right forum to issue specific responses or views."

The statement by the top military official comes after PTI Chairman Imran Khan had urged the military establishment to make the "right decisions". In an interview with anchorperson Sami Abraham for Bol News programme 'Tajzia', the PTI chief had warned that if Pakistan were to lose its nuclear deterrence, it would fragment into "three pieces".

Imran had gone on to say that the current political situation was a problem for the country as well as the establishment, which has consistently claimed it is neutral as the country goes through political upheaval since the filing of the no-confidence motion against the former premier on March 8.

"If the establishment doesn't make the right decisions then I can assure [you] in writing that [before everyone else] they and the army will be destroyed because what will become of the country if it goes bankrupt," he said.

"Pakistan is going towards a default. If that happens then which institution will be [worst] hit? The army. After it is hit, what concession will be taken from us? Denuclearisation," Imran said. "If the right decisions aren't made at this time then the country is going towards suicide," he added.

Politicians from the ruling coalition had castigated Imran for his remarks while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had accused him of "making naked threats against the country" and deeming him unfit for public office.

 

[ghazi52]

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Earlier, a group of UN Disarmament Fellows comprising officers from 24 countries, visited Pakistan from October 8 to 10 as part of their international study tour under the auspices of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNoDA).

During the visit, they received a briefing on Pakistan’s perspective on arms control, disarmament, and nuclear non-proliferation as well as the imperative of unhindered access to dual-use technologies for peaceful socio-economic applications, said an official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The group comprised officers from 24 countries including Algeria, Angola, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iran, Libya, Montenegro, Pakistan, Palau, Poland, Saint Kits & Nevis, Togo, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

 

[ghazi52]

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ISLAMABAD: Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (DG IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi concluded his visit to Pakistan after holding discussions focused on further enhancement of cooperation between Pakistan and IAEA in the areas of peaceful applications of nuclear technology specifically its role for mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Rafael Mariano Grossi also held meetings with the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and the Chairman of the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA), who briefed him on the nuclear security and regulatory regime. At PNRA, he also inaugurated the National Radiation Emergency Coordination Centre (NRECC). Pakistan has five decades of experience in safe and secure operations of civil nuclear power plants which follow the IAEA standards and guidelines.

Grossi visited Chashma Nuclear Power Generating Station (CNPGS), Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology (PINSTECH), Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Pakistan Centre of Excellence on Nuclear Security (PCENS), Nuclear Medicine, Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI) and the National Institute of Safety and Security (NISAS) to witness the safe and secure applications of nuclear technologies in the area of public health, industry, agriculture, food security, power generation.

At NORI and CNPGS, Director General Grossi inaugurated the CyberKnife and spent fuel dry storage facilities respectively. He also announced that Pakistan will serve, under ‘Ray of Hope’ initiative, as IAEA’s Regional Center for cancer treatment. During his visit to NIAB, Grossi inaugurated the ZODIAC Lab and designated the institute as IAEA’s Collaborating Center in agriculture and biotechnology.

While visiting PCENS and NISAS, DG IAEA appreciated the high standards of these centres dealing with nuclear safety and security. These centres have been imparting international trainings under IAEA aegis.

DG Grossi delivered a keynote address at a seminar on the topic “Climate Change Mitigation and the Role of Nuclear Energy” in Islamabad. In his address, he highlighted the importance of nuclear energy, as a clean source of energy, in countering the adverse impacts of climate change.

The visit concluded with a dinner hosted by the Foreign Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in honour of Director General Grossi, according to the FO spokesperson.

Since 1957, Pakistan, being a founding member of the IAEA, enjoys a productive and mutually beneficial relationship with the Agency.

As a member of the IAEA Board of Governors, Pakistan is also contributing to the agency’s decision-making. Such visits are a regular feature of PAKISTAN-IAEA interaction.

Former Director General of IAEA Yukia Amano visited Pakistan twice during his tenure. Director General Rafael Grossi’s visit had been pending due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

[TheSolution]

As long as india continues to exist, we will not give up our nuclear weapons.

Nuclear weapons should never be given up no matter what. India or no India.