News
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Pakistan gearing to expand nuclear production: NYT* US claims satellite photographs have shown ‘first wisps of steam from cooling towers of new nuclear reactor’
WASHINGTON: Pakistan is gearing to expand production of nuclear weapons-grade fuel and blocking talks on a treaty that would halt global production of new nuclear material, reported the New York Times on Monday.
Citing a senior US official, the paper said President Barack Obama used a meeting on Sunday with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to “express disappointment” that the country was leading opposition to a treaty that would end production of new nuclear bomb fuel.
Pakistan is building two new reactors for the production of weapons-grade plutonium, and one plant for salvaging plutonium from old reactor fuel, said the Times as Obama prepared to open an unprecedented nuclear security summit on Monday.
The 47-nation meeting is aimed at safeguarding unsecured uranium and separated plutonium stockpiles and averting the nightmare scenario of extremist groups acquiring nuclear weapons.
Three months ago, according to the Times, American intelligence officials examining satellite photographs of Pakistani nuclear facilities saw the first wisps of steam from the cooling towers of a new nuclear reactor. It was among the three plants under construction to make fuel for a second generation of nuclear arms, said the report.
Pakistan has insisted it had no choice as a US nuclear deal with India signed during the administration of Obama’s predecessor George Bush ended a long moratorium on providing New Delhi with the fuel and technology for nuclear power plants.
Critics of the Indian nuclear deal say the agreement may free up older facilities that India could devote to
making its own new generation of weapons, escalating a regional nuclear arms race.Pakistan has been seeking a civilian nuclear deal along the lines of a landmark agreement that the US struck with India in 2008. afp
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk