Consider Pakistan’s proliferation record before any deal: India

NewsGram Staff Writer

New Delhi: India, reacting to the news of US exploring a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan, said on Thursday that Islamabad's track record on proliferation should be taken into account before making any such move.

Answering queries on the issue, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said India has seen such reports and these have not appeared for the first time.

"All I would say is whosoever is examining that particular dossier should be well aware of Pakistan's track record in the area of proliferation," Swarup said.

He claimed that India got the civil nuclear deal on the basis of its own impeccable non-proliferation track record.

That is the reason the US gave us the 123 agreement in 2005 and that is why India got an NSG waiver in 2008. Pakistan's track record is completely different, Swarup said.

There have been concerns in the West about nuclear proliferation activities linked to Pakistani scientist AQ Khan.

Reports said the Barack Obama administration was considering a civilian nuclear deal with Pakistan ahead of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's visit to Washington later this month.

Asked about India proposing a National Security Adviser (NSA)-level meeting between Indian and Pakistan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings last month and the idea being abandoned due to Islamabad's insistence on meeting of the two foreign ministers, Swarup said there was an issue of sequencing.

He said India was committed to the understanding reached between India and Pakistan in the Russian city of Ufa in July.

He said the Ufa understanding was very clear that two NSAs have to meet to discuss all issues connected to terrorism and the DGMOs and chiefs of border guarding forces have to meet to sort out issues related to firing on border.

"We have told that we are ready for a NSA-level dialogue. Last time Pakistan walked out of it. But we remain committed to Ufa understanding that if Pakistan is willing to have a dialogue of two NSAs on all issues connected to terrorism, we are all for it," Swarup said. He said the foreign ministers meeting was not part of the agenda agreed in Ufa.

(With inputs from IANS)