30 April 2004	Friday	09 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

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UNITED NATIONS, April 29: Pakistan has declared that it will continue to develop its nuclear, missiles and related strategic capability to maintain the minimum credible deterrence vis-a-vis India.

Speaking at the UN Security Council following approval of the Resolution on Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction on Wednesday, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Munir Akram asserted that Pakistan would "not accept any demand for access, much less inspections, of our nuclear and strategic assets, materials and facilities."

Without naming India, Mr Akram said that Pakistan had to take into account the reality that "our eastern neighbour" was embarked on major programmes for nuclear weapons, missiles, anti-missiles and conventional arms acquisition and development.

The 15-nation Security Council passed the binding resolution criminalizing the acquisition of weapons of mass destruction by such private parties as terrorists and black market traders after its main sponsor, the United States, accommodated the major concerns of Pakistan and other countries in the revised text.

Mr Akram told the council "we have proposed the creation of a Strategic Restraint Regime in South Asia encompassing nuclear-weapons and confidence building measures; a conventional balance of arms and the resolution of underlying disputes. We hope to promote such a regime under the composite dialogue recently agreed by the two states. An experts-level meeting on "nuclear CBMs" will be held next month," he added.

Ambassador Akram noted that the sponsors of the resolution had given assurances that it was designed to address a 'gap' in international law to address the risk of terrorists and non-state actors acquiring or developing weapons of mass destruction, and that it did not seek any specific legislation which was left to national action by states.

Mr Akram said Pakistan shared the view expressed in the Council's open debate that the council could not legislate for the world. The council could not assume the stewardship of global non-proliferation and disarmament issues, he said. Composed of 15 states, it was not a representative body. It could not enforce the obligations assumed by five of its members which retained nuclear weapons since they also possessed the veto power.

He said biological weapons were the most likely weapons of mass destruction to be acquired by terrorists and non-state actors, as well as by states, "Biological weapons technology was evolving rapidly, and a universal and equitable verification mechanism to prevent biological weapons proliferation was now more essential than ever."

"The situation in the area of nuclear non-proliferation, as well as missile proliferation, was considerably more complicated," Pakistan's chief delegate said. Pakistan had been obliged to acquire develop nuclear weapons and related delivery systems to maintain credible minimum deterrence against external aggression, especially once similar capabilities had been developed and demonstrated by its eastern neighbour.

Mr Akram said that the nuclear non-proliferation regime needed to accommodate the reality of the existence of these weapons in South Asia: "A recognition of this reality would enable Pakistan to cooperate more fully in promoting the objectives of non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament."

Taking action on the US-drafted resolution, the Security Council decided that "all states shall adopt and enforce appropriate effective laws which prohibit any non-state actor to manufacture, acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in particular for terrorist purposes, as well as attempts to engage in any of the foregoing activities, participate in them as an accomplice, assist or finance them."

Governments were prohibited from aiding any private actors seeking to make or acquire such weapons. The resolution adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which gives the 15-member council the power to enforce certain decisions through tribunals, embargoes, or military force after all peaceful means of persuading delinquent member states have been exhausted.

In the public debate last week to suggest amendments to the text, Pakistan and several other speakers cautioned that the most important aspect about the resolution was not enforcement. They emphasized that the council would have to get separate approval for the means of enforcement.

The Security Council would establish a committee to monitor for the next two years the implementation of the resolution and would expect all states to present reports on their efforts to execute the provisions within six months.

However, the Wednesday's resolution is not retroactive, a fact noted by the Ambassador Akram who said that the provisions of the resolution would apply only to events from the date of its adoption.

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