RT Monitoring Desk
VIENNA: Pakistan has warned a deal leading to increased Indian access to nuclear fuel could accelerate the atomic arms race between the rivals, according to a letter wrote by Pakistan to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) members.
The 35-nation IAEA board is expected to approve on August 1, a safeguards agreement setting up rules for inspecting some of India’s civilian nuclear facilities. Approval of the safeguards deal is key in India’s efforts to gain access to legal imports of nuclear fuel and technology from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group.
Pakistan’s letter dated July 18 addressed more than 60 nations including members of the IAEA board and Nuclear Suppliers Group. It warned the safeguards agreement would hurt nonproliferation efforts and “threatens to increase the chances of a nuclear arms race in the subcontinent.”
The Nuclear Suppliers Group bans exports to nuclear weapons states such as India and Pakistan that have not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and do not have full safeguard agreements allowing the U.N. nuclear watchdog to inspect their facilities. But the Nuclear Suppliers Group is ready to consider a waiver for India, in part due to lobbying from Washington.
The Bush administration has signed a deal to supply India with nuclear fuel but needs approval, first from the Nuclear Suppliers Group and then Congress. Pakistan is vehemently opposed to the Nuclear Suppliers Group doing business with its rival and may vote against approval of the draft at the August 1 IAEA board meeting.
The IAEA board is expected to approve the deal despite criticism from detractors that it could limit international oversight of New Delhi’s civilian facilities because of ambiguous wording and help supply its arms program with fissile material.
It is noted that to finalize the U.S. deal, India must strike separate agreements with the IAEA as well as the Nuclear Suppliers Group of countries that export nuclear material.