Pakistan also offers nuclear security skills to world

[Neo]

Pakistan also offers nuclear security skills to world

By Anwar Iqbal and Masood Haider
Friday, 16 Apr, 2010

Pakistan is ready to share with nations its competence in the area of nuclear security, particularly prevention, detection and response to illicit trafficking, said the paper Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani presented at one of the sessions at the Washington summit earlier this week. –Photo by Reuters

WASHINGTON: In a policy paper presented to leaders from nearly 50 nations, Pakistan offered to share with other states its nuclear security skills, particularly in prevention, detection and response to illicit trafficking.

In a similar document, presented at the Washington nuclear security summit, which ended on Tuesday, Pakistan declared that it had acquired advanced nuclear fuel cycle capability and can offer it to the rest of the world under IAEA safeguards.

“Pakistan is ready to share with nations its competence in the area of nuclear security, particularly prevention, detection and response to illicit trafficking,” said the paper Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani presented at one of the sessions at the Washington summit earlier this week.

The same document contained two other equally significant points: nations need to cooperate with each other in acquiring reliable nuclear security and that India needed to work with Pakistan for protecting South Asia against a nuclear disaster.

“Of course, legally, nuclear security is a national responsibility. But nations do not act alone. They cooperate with each other to learn and to establish formal and informal networks,” said the clause dealing with international cooperation.

Another clause directed specifically at South Asia, noted: “Regional stability is important for nuclear security. We believe that Pakistan’s proposals on a Strategic Restraint Regime in South — with its three elements of nuclear and missile restraint, a balance in conventional forces, and conflict resolution — will go a long way in making our region secure and stable.”

The document reminds the world leaders that Pakistan had already concluded with India several CBMS. These include pre-notification of ballistic missile testing, establishment of a hotline, prevention of attacks on nuclear installations and facilities, and an agreement on reducing the risk of accidents relating to nuclear weapons.

“These efforts must continue. And our two nations — Pakistan and India — must continue to invest in a sustained and constructive dialogue.”

After sharing with the world leaders its ‘competence’ in the fields of nuclear security and fuel production, Pakistan reminds the rest of the world: “To meet its growing demand for energy for economic development, Pakistan plans to produce 8,800 Megawatts of nuclear energy by 2030.” But this would “constitute only 5.4 per cent of the total energy mix.”

The document then moves to the moot point: “We urge all relevant forums to take steps to enable Pakistan to access civil nuclear energy and technology, in a non-discriminatory manner, under IAEA safeguards.”

The entire document reflects Islamabad’s new confidence in promoting itself as a state not only capable of protecting its installations but also ready to offer services and goods to others.

In the process, Pakistan also got rid of the apologetic posture it had adopted since February 2004 when Dr A. Q. Khan confessed to running a proliferation ring.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/...s-to-world-640