By Sikander Hayat
I saw with wonder that the same countries which lobbied for sale of nuclear technology to India (a non-signatory to NPT) are now trying to stop a similar nuclear deal between Pakistan & China. I smell hypocrisy here and so should these countries who are playing the role of the hypocrite.
According to Financial Times newspaper “China signed an agreement with Pakistan about the two additional nuclear reactors in 2003, although when Beijing a year later joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the body that establishes rules for nuclear commerce, the deal was put on hold.
However, China revived its interest in the Pakistan deal after the US signed its civil nuclear deal with India in 2008 and lobbied other members of the NSG to give the arrangement their blessing. Chinese officials argue privately that if US companies can sell reactors to India – which, like Pakistan, has not signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty – then China should be allowed to fulfil its agreement with Pakistan, a long-standing ally.
Not only has the US-India deal weakened Washington’s hand in opposing the Chinese sale to Pakistan, but the Obama administration would also not want a tough argument with Beijing to lead China to pull out of the NSG.
Diplomats say that the sale of the reactors to Pakistan is likely to be discussed at the next NSG meeting in November. China could argue that it should receive an exemption from the rule that prevents commerce with states that have not signed the NPT, or it could argue that the deal was covered by an agreement with Pakistan that was signed before it joined the NSG.
China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman implied that Beijing would take the second route, saying that “the project is based on an agreement signed between the two countries in 2003”.”
America should have thought about the implications of its actions when it steam rolled all opposition to the Indian nuclear deal. Now many other countries want a share of the spoils which is the nuclear market of the future where most of the energy deficient world is looking towards new ways to creating energy. Nuclear is the tried and tested method and favoured by many countries due to reliability of supply which is not the case with wind and other forms of renewable energy sources.
Pakistan asked America for a similar deal that America had conducted with Pakistan’s mortal enemy India but it got nothing but lectures on virtues of Indian “democracy”. This situation forced Pakistan to look for alternative sources and given the fact the China has been a friend of Pakistan in all weathers, Pakistan & China concluded a deal to build 4 new nuclear power plants to quench the thirst of energy deficient Pakistan.
Pakistan’s energy crisis is serious and has been exacerbated by the lack planning over the last few decades but now it is being understood that without abundant energy Pakistan will stop growing economically. In the context of this energy crisis in Pakistan, China Pakistan nuclear deal is very important indeed for the future of Pakistan economy.
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