9 Apr 2010, 0453 hrs IST,ET Bureau
NEW DELHI: As the US blew hot and cold on a civilian nuclear deal for Pakistan, China is all set to emerge as a strong backer for the idea.
Pakistan wants a civilian nuclear deal in a bid to get parity with India. Though the US did not reject the idea outright, it did say that a nuclear deal was not on the cards right now. On Thursday, the Obama administration reiterated this position. "We are focused on Pakistan’s energy needs, but, as we said last week, right now that does not include civilian nuclear energy," assistant secretary of state for public affairs P J Crowley told reporters. Earlier US secretary of state Hillary Clinton put matters in perspective by saying that a civil nuclear deal like India’s does not happen "easily or quickly."
The US position hasn’t discouraged Islamabad from stepping up efforts to secure a nuclear deal. And these efforts are now reportedly geared towards Beijing. According to a report in a Pakistani newspaper, China would back Pakistan at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on a civilian nuclear deal and also on other areas. The status and safety of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is also expected to emerge as an area of discussion.
The report further said that the issue of China’s support for Pakistan was discussed at a parliamentary committee on national security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who is expected to continue efforts for a civilian nuclear deal during his trip to Washington for the summit.
Making a pitch for a civilian nuclear deal, Mr Gilani said that his country “qualifies" for an India-like civilian nuclear deal. “The objectives of nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security can only be served and promoted through a non-discriminatory paradigm for international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,” he added. He further claimed that Pakistan has a "well-established, foolproof safety and security culture".
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Politics/Nation/China-to-push-Pak-case-for-nuke-deal-with-US/articleshow/5776231.cms
NEW DELHI: As the US blew hot and cold on a civilian nuclear deal for Pakistan, China is all set to emerge as a strong backer for the idea.
Pakistan wants a civilian nuclear deal in a bid to get parity with India. Though the US did not reject the idea outright, it did say that a nuclear deal was not on the cards right now. On Thursday, the Obama administration reiterated this position. "We are focused on Pakistan’s energy needs, but, as we said last week, right now that does not include civilian nuclear energy," assistant secretary of state for public affairs P J Crowley told reporters. Earlier US secretary of state Hillary Clinton put matters in perspective by saying that a civil nuclear deal like India’s does not happen "easily or quickly."
The US position hasn’t discouraged Islamabad from stepping up efforts to secure a nuclear deal. And these efforts are now reportedly geared towards Beijing. According to a report in a Pakistani newspaper, China would back Pakistan at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on a civilian nuclear deal and also on other areas. The status and safety of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is also expected to emerge as an area of discussion.
The report further said that the issue of China’s support for Pakistan was discussed at a parliamentary committee on national security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who is expected to continue efforts for a civilian nuclear deal during his trip to Washington for the summit.
Making a pitch for a civilian nuclear deal, Mr Gilani said that his country “qualifies" for an India-like civilian nuclear deal. “The objectives of nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security can only be served and promoted through a non-discriminatory paradigm for international cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,” he added. He further claimed that Pakistan has a "well-established, foolproof safety and security culture".
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Politics/Nation/China-to-push-Pak-case-for-nuke-deal-with-US/articleshow/5776231.cms
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