Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie shakes hand with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani prior to their meeting in Islamabad. Liang is in Islamabad to hold talks with Pakistani leadership to discuss issues of common concern including military ties and defense cooperation, an official said. AP Photo/Anjum Naveed
WASHINGTON: After talks with a senior US official,
India said on Tuesday that it was closely examining reports of China selling two nuclear reactors to Pakistan to see if the guidelines of an international export control regime had been applied to it.
The Indian statement, as reported in the American media on Tuesday,
reflects Indias desire to prevent the deal but also shows a realisation that it may not be able to do so.
The realisation stems from a
change in the US position on this issue.
The Obama administration suggested on Monday it would not attempt to prevent the China-Pakistan nuclear deal if the arrangement did not violate Beijings obligations as a member of a 46-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.
We are alert to these reports. We are fully aware of what has been announced. These reports say that the cooperation is ostensibly for peaceful purposes and one within the
safeguards, said Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip J. Crowley expressed similar sentiments at a briefing on Monday, saying that the
United States will seek to make sure that should this deal go forward, it is in compliance with the rules of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The
Indian foreign secretary, however, noted that
this matter is under examination and
the result of this examination will reveal whether the NSG guidelines have been applied in this case.
China has said it would
set up two reactors in Pakistan, in addition to
two earlier power reactors Beijing has already installed.
On Monday, the Indian foreign secretary met US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns in New Delhi for finalising the agenda for the first strategic dialogue between the two countries to be held in Washington on June 3.
A joint statement issued after the talks identified five focus areas of strategic cooperation, which include energy and climate change, education and development, economic trade and agriculture constituted as the main items on the agenda.
It does not mention Indias reported concerns over Pakistans nuclear deal with China.
DAWN.COM | Front Page | US, India feel Sino-Pak Nuclear deal irreversible
I dont understand that the fuss is all about, dont the indians have a similar in fact better deal with the US. Even if they are studying the deal what do they think that they will achieve, do the indian gov think that they will be able to avert a strategic deal between Pakistan and China.
And PS the comments above are not to troll, so dont bother if you would want to answer with those intentions.