New Delhi, February 6
External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today called for an international debate on Pakistan’s nuclear controversy involving its top scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan and asserted that it was not an internal matter of Pakistan. “It is a matter for the international community”, he said.
Mr Sinha made this comment at a joint press conference with his visiting British counterpart Jack Straw here after the two had a 70-minute talk.
“We don’t know the charges against Dr Khan. Our system is different. We go by a legal system. I don’t know what the Pakistani system is. The Pakistan President has taken a decision. It appears to me that things will not stop here,” Mr Sinha said. He also underlined the need for ensuring a more responsible behaviour from countries having nuclear capability. “The issue should be debated in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and resolved,” he added.
Mr Straw, on his part, chose to tread cautiously on this aspect. Asked why the UK was using one yardstsick for Pakistan on the issue of proliferation and another for Iraq, Mr Straw argued that the situation was different. He contended that Iraq had breached UN Security Council resolutions “so as to warrant this action”.
The British Foreign Secretary said as a member of the UN Security Council as also being on the board of IAEA, the UK looked to all countries, including Iran and Libya, to observe their obligations. “We will do everything we can to ensure full compliance with the treaty (NPT),” he stated.
Mr Straw also contended that in Iraq, the international community was involved and violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and other resolutions was serious enough for action. He said the UK wanted to ensure full compliance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
On the question of Pakistan’s re-entry into the Commonwealth, Mr Sinha and Mr Straw said the decision depended upon the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and it was not an Indo-UK decision. Mr Sinha said the point needed to be made clear that it was not an Indo-Pakistan issue. Mr Straw thanked India for the release of Purulia arms drop case accused Peter Bleach, who left for London this morning.
