News
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Pak-China nuclear deal matter of concern: Clinton
ISLAMABAD: The US has conveyed its “concerns” to Islamabad over China’s sale of two civilian nuclear reactors to Pakistan, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a press conference on Monday. Washington has already sought clarification from Beijing on the deal to build two new 650-megawatt reactors in Punjab, saying it must be approved by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). “We believe that the NSG, which has recently met to examine the sale that you are referring to, has posed a series of questions that should be answered because as part of any kind of transaction involving nuclear power, there are concerns by the international community, and Pakistan knows that,” Clinton said. “We have conveyed them (concerns), other members of the NSG conveyed them and we look forward to answers of those questions posed,” she told reporters. Clinton said the US would continue to look into broadening civil nuclear cooperation, but said Pakistan’s chequered history on proliferation issues “raises red flags” and concerns that need to be addressed. Pakistan and China are supposedly looking at a civilian nuclear deal. Clinton said “intensive discussion” had begun to explore a civil nuclear deal with Pakistan, but outlined issues to be addressed, including rigorous controls over the export of nuclear information and material. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk