US says China can't do nuclear deal with Pak sans NSG approval

Washington, Jun.16 (ANI): The United States has asked for clarifications from China over its nuclear deal with Pakistan, under which it would assisting the later to set up two new nuclear power plants.

Talking to reporters here, State Department spokesperson Philip Crowley said that Beijing must clarify that the deal has been approved by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) before moving on with the project.

"We've asked China to clarify the details of its sale of additional nuclear reactors to Pakistan," The Dawn quoted Crowley, as saying.

Reports indicate that Chinese companies would be assisting Islamabad to construct at least two new 650-megawatt reactors at Chashma in Punjab province.

"This appears to extend beyond cooperation that was grand-fathered when China was approved for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). We believe that such cooperation would require specific exemption approved by consensus of the NSG, as was done for India," he added.

It may be noted that the 45-member NSG, which controls the export and sale of nuclear technology worldwide, had granted a waiver for India, which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), when the US signed a civil nuclear deal with it in 2008. (ANI)