Pak worried over Indo-Russia nuclear deal

Islamabad, Dec. 11 (ANI): Pakistan has expressed concern over the latest nuclear energy deal between India and Russia, saying it has a legitimate interest in ensuring that a strategic balance is maintained in the region.

Addressing a press conference here, Foreign Office spokesperson Abdul Basit said Pakistan can not remain oblivious to such developments, had every right to protect its security interests.

"Major powers have a responsibility in this regard as discriminatory policies are contributing negatively," The Dawn quoted Basit, as saying.

It is pertinent to mention here that during Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's recent Russia tour, both the countries signed a civil nuclear deal, which is expected to go far beyond the 123 civil nuclear agreement that India sealed with the United States last year.

Under the new pact, Russia has ensured fuel supply guarantee even in the event of India conducting a nuclear test, whereas the 123 agreement with the United States clearly specifies that all kinds of nuclear cooperation will be terminated in case India goes ahead with a nuclear test.

Basit, however, parried queries about how actually the Indo-Russia deal would affect the strategic balance.

When asked that whether Islamabad has taken up the issue of India's alleged involvement in the Baloch insurgency with New Delhi, he said : "We do not believe in any blame game."

"We would proceed in the matter as appropriate, in the best national interest," Basit added. (ANI)