Pakistan makes fresh bid for civil nuclear deal with US

Pakistan on Monday sought afresh a civil nuclear with the United States on the pattern of the one that the US has with India whereas American officials, who were here for talks on strategic stability and nonproliferation, asked for Islamabad’s signatures on the Fissile Missile Cutoff Treaty (FMCT).
Pakistan has been long seeking a civil nuclear deal with the US that has allowed New Delhi’s access to nuclear technology despite being a non-signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Pakistani officials say a civil nuclear pact with the US would help the government overcome the ever-growing energy requirements. Besides, Pakistan also wants to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and wants the US’ support in this regard. The NSG is a multinational body concerned with reducing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that may be applicable to nuclear weapon development and by improving safeguards and protection on existing materials. According to diplomatic sources, Pakistani officials discussed the vital issues of a civil nuclear deal with the US and Islamabad’s NSG membership with their American counterparts at the meeting of Pakistan-US Security, Strategic Stability, and Nonproliferation (SSS&NP) Working Group.
Additional Secretary for the United Nations and Economic Coordination Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and Acting Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller, co-chaired the vital meeting. In the past, the US authorities had turned down Pakistan’s demands for a civil nuclear deal. The sources said the American officials told their Pakistani counterparts that they would convey Islamabad’s demand to senior American authorities in Washington. Another issue that was discussed was that of Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT), a proposed international treaty to prohibit the further production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices.
The US and other western nations have been blaming Pakistan for blocking the start of negotiations of a global halt to the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. However, Pakistani authorities say the FMCT cannot begin because it does no cover the existing stockpiles of bomb-making material. Moreover, Pakistani officials are of the view that the civil nuclear deal between India and the US would allow New Delhi to have many new sources of fissile material to make bombs.
“It was decided to continue with talks on FMCT and other important nonproliferation matters at the meeting held here between the US and Pakistani officials,” a source seeking anonymity said. He said as for the US demand of Pakistan to sign FMCT, Islamabad’s stance remained the same, that the treaty should also cover the existing stockpiles of fissile material.