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LONDON, Jan 30: Foreign minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri on Monday asked the international community not to adopt a discriminatory approach toward Pakistan but to help it acquire nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Making a strong case for Pakistan as an anchor of peace and stability at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the foreign minister said, “Pakistan merits the support of the international community to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.”
The foreign minister said given the scarcity of fossil fuel reserves, Pakistan needed to generate 8,800 megawatts of nuclear power by 2020 to cater to its growing energy needs. Mr Kasuri said the present generation capacity of approximately 500 megawatts was far below the international average share of nuclear energy in the total energy output figures as well as Pakistan’s domestic energy needs. The foreign minister said, “The US has announced the lifting of three-decade old embargo on India on cooperation in civilian nuclear technology. We expect that a non-discriminatory approach will be adopted by the US and EU towards Pakistan in this respect.” Mr Kasuri said though Pakistan was not a party to NPT, it adhered to the objective of non-proliferation and would like to work with the international community to promote this objective.
“Let me reiterate that the Government of Pakistan has never and will never proliferate. Robust legislative and administrative structures are in place and functioning to ensure non-proliferation from our territory,” said Mr Kasuri.
Mr Kasuri said Pakistan was not responsible for nuclear proliferation in South Asia and the country was forced to respond in May, 1998 to ensure credible deterrence. He said Pakistan remained committed to the doctrine of minimum credible deterrence and supported nuclear stabilization and restraint in South Asia.
Mr Kasuri said the reality of Pakistan’s nuclear capability had to be accepted and the IAEA Director-General suggested such an approach on several occasions. During his visit to Islamabad in March 2004, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw had argued for taking Pakistan, India and Israel out of the nuclear netherworld.
GAS PIPELINE: Highlighting the importance of projects for economic development to strengthen peace in the region, the foreign minister said: “The Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline is such a project that is of utmost importance to the growing energy needs of both Pakistanand India. We are committed to taking this forward.”
Mr Kasuri said the Pakistan-India Joint Working Group on the pipeline project had held a series of meetings and both sides had agreed to set up a joint technical sub-group. The next meeting of the working group was expected to be held in Islamabad this March, he said, adding a tripartite meeting of Iran, Pakistan and India was also expected to be held to discuss matters relating to feasibility study, project structure and a tripartite framework agreement.
AFGHANISTAN: On Afghanistan, the freign minister said: “Pakistan has direct stakes in Afghanistan’s peace, progress, stability and prosperity as over three million Afghan refugees continue to live on our soil.”
Mr Kasuri said Pakistan was also working on the TAP pipeline project for import of gas from Turkmenistan via Afghanistan and building closer communication links with Afghanistan.
He said Pakistan and Afghanistan hoped to complete the Torkham-Jalalabad road in the coming months.
Mr Kasuri reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to promote peace and stability by continuing to be a frontline state against terrorism; constructive engagement with India to find peaceful and durable solution to all disputes, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said Pakistan was working with the international community to achieve the objectives of nuclear non-proliferation; and pursuance of friendly and cordial relations with all states on the basis of sovereign equality. He said peace and stability would continue to be the central and overriding theme of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Reuters adds: Hamas could help bring peace to the Middle East and the international community should give the militant group a chance, the foreign minister said on Monday.
“Maybe Hamas is well qualified to bring peace to the region, but for that the international community must give it a chance,” Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri told the Institute for International Studies think tank.
Mr Kasuri said the West had called for democratic elections in the region, so it should accept the choice of the Palestinian people. “You cannot have your cake and eat it,” he said.
“I think something positive could come out of it. Much depends on the Israeli elections (in March),” he said. “I hope the extremists do not win in Israel.”
