Pakistan to review moratorium on nuclear testing

Islamabad, Aug 20 (UNI) Pakistan today said it would have to review the unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing if India resumed nuclear detonations.

''We seriously take assertions of Indian leadership on nuclear tests,'' Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told a press briefing here.

She was commenting on statements emanating from New Delhi in the wake of Indo-US nuclear deal signalling at more denotations.

Pakistan had joined the exclusive international nuclear club by successfully detonating six devices in May 1998, days after tests by India the same month.

Ms Aslam said this should be a source of concern not just for Pakistan but for the international community.

She said such statements were coming when Indian nuclear capability would be augmented by nuclear agreement with the United States and access to latest technology.

The spokesperson said Pakistan continued to maintain unilateral moratorium on testing and has proposed to India a bilateral agreement on a test ban.

She said resumption of nuclear tests by India would create a serious situation and Pakistan will have to review its position and take action that was consistent with its supreme national interests.

About Australian decision to sell Uranium to India, the spokesperson said like Indo-US nuclear accord, this deal also warranted close attention. She said any development that can impinge on strategic balance in South Asia was 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,'' Ms Aslam stressed.

She pointed out that Pakistan also has its neergy needs and its energy plans include development of nuclear power plants, which it wants to develop under international safeguards.

She hoped that the nuclear suppliers group would realise Pakistan's needs as well.

Pakistan was fully committed to non-proliferation and it believed that for effeciveness of global nuclear non-proliferation regime Pakistan must be treated and viewed as a partner, she said.

Ms Aslam demanded that the nuclear suppliers group should adopt a criteria based approach for nuclear cooperation.

When asked about the total number of Indian prisoners so far released by Pakistan, she said, ''we have so far released 2823 Indians including 264 civilians and 2559 fishermen.'' UNI