CPGS Calls for Non-discrimination in Global Nuclear Regime
September 29, 2014
ISLAMABAD: Centre for Pakistan and Gulf Studies (CPGS) on Monday unveiled a set of recommendations that emphasized on non-discrimination in the global nuclear regime for promoting the objectives of nuclear non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament.
The 11 recommendations framed on the basis of presentations by experts and subsequent discussions at the international seminar on ‘Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Disarmament: Contemporary Challenges and Prospects’ on May 7, 2014 in Islamabad importantly called for granting Pakistan its rightful place in the nuclear regime.
The recommendations are contained in a 181 page report on the international seminar, which documented its proceedings.
The report was launched in collaboration with German Foundation Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
The seminar attempted to look into the challenges confronting the global non-proliferation regime and discuss Pakistan’s case for a non-discriminatory global nuclear regime; its access to civilian nuclear technology and inclusion in various multilateral export control regimes.
The international seminar held under CPGS’ flagship project ‘JOHAR: Contemporary Debate in the Second Nuclear Age’, which studies the evolving dynamics of nuclear non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament, had also sought to dispel misperceptions about Pakistan’s nuclear program.
Former Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik, who remained member of the National Command Authority for five years, in his key note speech at the launch ceremony said security concerns about Pakistan’s nuclear program were a result of enemy propaganda and hence baseless.
“We have been crippled by those listening to the fiction of our enemies,” he said and added that Pakistan’s capability to produce safe nuclear energy was proven.
Senator Malik regretted world’s discriminatory attitude towards Pakistan’s nuclear program.
President CPGS Senator Sehar Kamran, while introducing the report, said that it was time that we as a nation should not be apologetic about our hard earned capability. She further asked for bold stance on the country’s nuclear program.
She said an equitable and non-discriminatory international order was needed, which could address the concerns of all countries.
One of the recommendations of report said: “The non-NPT nuclear powers, including Pakistan, should be accommodated within the mainstream global non-proliferation regime in a non-discriminatory and equitable manner.”
Supporting Pakistan’s case for inclusion in the multilateral export control regimes, another recommendation said: “Pakistan fully qualifies for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and must be given non-discriminatory access to international nuclear export control arrangements.”
The recommendations further suggested promotion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy on the basis of a criteria-based and non- discriminatory approach instead of subjective criteria and standards that suited the interests of major world powers.
For a better understanding of the threats to non-proliferation regime, the recommendations called on major powers to pay attention to unresolved territorial and other disputes and discrimination in the universal application of international laws, regimes, UN resolutions and norms.
The CPGS recommendations stressed on countries with nuclear capabilities to protect the ‘material’ in their possession as a “national responsibility”.
It should be recalled that the speakers at the seminar, both international and local, had reaffirmed their confidence in Pakistan’s ability to protect its nuclear facilities and material. The seminar had strongly rejected the fears in the West about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear program as baseless.
On the regional level, CGPS recommended resumption ofPakistan-India talks on nuclear confidence building and risk reduction measures.
It furthermore noted that Pakistan’s offer of a strategic restraint regime in South Asia provides a useful framework for enhancing strategic stability in the region.
Other recommendations related to making the security assurances by NPT nuclear weapons states legally binding; addressing concerns due to development, deployment and proliferation of anti-ballistic missile systems and related technologies; preventing the militarization and weaponization of outer space and offensive and criminal use of cyber space.
The CPGS said that nuclear states with large stockpiles needed to demonstrate a renewed and universally verifiable commitment to achieve nuclear disarmament within a reasonable time frame.
The launch of the report was followed by a discussion on the report, its findings and recommendations by Lt Gen (retd) Syed Muhammad Owais, former commander Army Air Defence, Lt Gen (retd) Agha Umar Farooq, former President National Defense University and Ambassador (retd) Munawer Saeed Bhatti, former additional secretary ministry of foreign affairs took part in the discussion.