Indeed, when asked about Crowley’s comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang simply told journalists: ‘Civilian and nuclear energy cooperation between China and Pakistan is completely in line with the international obligations of nuclear non-proliferation, and it’s completely for peaceful purposes.’
Off the record, though, Chinese nuclear experts are keen to point to what they view as US hypocrisy over the sale, noting that the United States forced through an exemption for India from NSG guidelines in 2008. In their view, providing comparable nuclear assistance to Pakistan simply helps maintain the nuclear balance in South Asia.
Although China objected to the waiver granted India, it decided not to block the decision as officials didn’t want to risk alienating Indians on an issue of such great importance to New Delhi. This hasn’t stopped China exerting its ‘right’ to respond in kind with Pakistan. But it’s important to note here that Chinese officials don’t appear to have gone to the trouble of securing the consent of all the other NSG members before doing so, unlike the US, which spent years lobbying for its deal. (This deal anyway only succeeded because Russia, France and other countries also wanted to sell nuclear items to India—no one expects a comparable rush to engage in nuclear commerce with Pakistan).
Supporters of granting India but not Pakistan a NSG waiver insist that the two countries’ nuclear proliferation behavior is fundamentally different, and they emphasize New Delhi’s impeccable non-proliferation record, claiming that Indian policies have supported the principles underlying the NPT, if not the treaty itself. They also note the country’s comprehensive nuclear export control system, the congruence between India’s export guidelines and lists with those of the NSG and the Missile Technology Control Regime, and New Delhi’s commitments in its nuclear energy deal with the United States to place all future civilian reactors under international safeguards.
The view among Western governments about both Pakistan’s will and capacity is markedly different—and not without some cause. Those uneasy about Pakistan’s nuclear activities can readily point, for example, to the proliferation harm done by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan’s nuclear programme. Before his arrest a few years ago, Khan ran an illicit nuclear proliferation network that sold uranium centrifuges and even detailed designs for a nuclear bomb, some of which may remain in circulation.
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Dr.k.r.sheikh
if nations wants to show respect to each other,their is no need of weapons.but exceptionally west needs to show respect region not a single country of their choice.
Bastich
Are you an infant? No one, even the lowliest of peasant will ever consider a nuclear war. Even the ground realities in India/Pakistan/China are testament to this. A Nuclear war implies the end to all the participants (and the neighbours as well).
Even if India and Pakistan go to war- there’s no chance any country will even consider using Nukes – for not only they will lose any international support even in defeat – they’ll have everything to lose – not just their national pride!!
Can we stop these “India Pak Nuclear Holocaust” BS and stick to topics that are pragmatic?
T Rama Bhat
“Yet even setting aside the question of nuclear weapons falling into terrorist hands, nuclear competition between India and Pakistan is especially dangerous.” :- Pakistan is able to fund this program because of the financial aid that they are able to extract from USA and other western countries by playing on their strategic fears and stringing them along. Money is after all a fungible commodity. Even though aid is not given for this purpose specifically, they are able to avoid spending their own capital for relevant needs and divert it. In fact, these powers waive off the debt due to them from Pakistan regularly. Pakistan has never felt the pinch of the expenditure towards their nuclear armament development as they are sure loans made to them will be waived off to them in future also!
It is China that is the nuclear arms proliferator (sitting securely in the club of “accepted” nuclear weapons states) that has designed the Pakistan nuclear bomb and tested it, unofficially, prior to 1998. They have given them the technology for nuclear-tipped missiles also and are working on giving them technology for upgrading these missiles.
“Pakistani leaders in particular have concluded that their nuclear arsenal has deterred India from again using its conventional forces to attack Pakistani territory. As a result, Pakistan’s implicit nuclear doctrine presumes the possible first use of nuclear weapons.” :- This is an argument raised by western powers to instill fear in our media, intellectuals , and political leaders. It is a pity that many Indians lap up this theory hook line and sinker.
Even USA has restrained itself from the nuclear first-strike option at the height of cold war. Using this first strike option is not a joke. Every world leader knows that there will be a retaliatory strike from the opposite nuclear power which will destroy the “first-strike” power also. No nation wants to commit suicide enmasse .After all, wars are fought to gain something and not to lose the lives of a majority of one’s own population. That is why Pakistan is desperately clutching to the illusion of “strategic-depth” in Afghanistan against the possibility (however remote) of a conventional military offensive by India.
If we go by their rhetoric that their threshold is very low, and at the first possible opportunity they will use the nuclear first strike option, then the necessity of seeking the “illusion of strategic-depth” will not arise. The Punjabi military leaders of Pakistan will dare not risk enmasse suicide.
Aj
@Kayani
What rubbish. The highest possibility of nukes falling into the wrong hands is in Pakistan right now. What universe are you living in mate?
Kayani
There were no concerns shown when India went into deal with the USA despite unsecure nuclear facilities in India which are posing highest possible risk in the region.
ronnie
Exception,exception,exception.Here is one more exception.The bullying and declining ex hyper power is reaping what it sowed by making an exception.