Pakistan on Monday hinted it will review its unilateral moratorium on exploding atomic bombs if India resumed nuclear tests.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday hinted it will review its unilateral moratorium on exploding atomic bombs if India resumed nuclear tests, last carried out by the two countries nine years back.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said India's sovereign right to conduct nuclear tests being preserved in the Indo-US nuclear deal should be a "source of concern" not just for Pakistan but to the international community as well.
Pakistan continues to maintain a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing and has also proposed to India a bilateral agreement on a test ban, the spokesperson said at her weekly press briefing.
She said any resumption of nuclear tests by India would create a "serious situation" and Pakistan will have to review its position and take action that is consistent with its supreme national interests.
On Australia's decision to sell Uranium to India, the spokesperson said like the Indo-US nuclear accord, this deal also warranted close attention.
She said any development that can impinge on strategic balance in South Asia is a matter of vital concern to Pakistan.
Pakistan does not want a nuclear arms race in the region but at the same time it is committed to maintain a credible minimum deterrence in the interest of strategic balance, which is vital for regional peace, she said.
The spokesperson pointed out that Pakistan also has its energy needs and its plans include development of nuclear power plants under international safeguards.
She hoped that the Nuclear Suppliers Group(NSG) would realise Pakistan's needs as well, saying the country is fully committed to non-proliferation and believes that it must be treated and viewed as a partner for effectiveness of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.
Aslam demanded that the nuclear suppliers group adopt a criteria based approach for nuclear cooperation.
Asked to comment on statements by US presidential candidates regarding Pakistan, the spokesperson said Islamabad doesn't want to be dragged into the election debates in the US.
On the issue of Iran, the spokesperson said Pakistan would not become party to any efforts to destabilise Tehran.
She also said Pakistan is taking steps to ensure safety and security of all foreigners including Chinese nationals in the country.
On the prisoner exchange going on between New Delhi and Islamabad, the spokesperson said Pakistan has so far released 2,823 Indians including 264 civilians and 2,559 fishermen.
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