Pakistan asserts its qualifications to become Nuclear Suppliers Group's member

UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan Thursday emphasized its eligibility to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, saying it was critical to adopt an equitable, non-discriminatory and criteria-based approach to promoting civil nuclear cooperation and membership in export control regimes.

Speaking in the UN Security Council, the acting Pakistani Permanent Representative to the UN, Nabeel Munir, said that Pakistan had taken a series of steps that fully qualify it for joining the NSG.

He underscored Pakistan's commitment to its non-proliferation obligations, saying it had been a consistent supporter of the objectives of resolution 1540 (2004), which affirms that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and their means of delivery constitutes a threat to international peace and security.

"Our commitment to its implementation has remained second to none," he said in a debate on stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by non-State actors. "It is in the interest of all states to prevent proliferation of WMDs to states as well as non-state actors."

The Pakistani representative also cautioned against the grant of waivers to the long-held non-proliferation norms and rules as such a move carries obvious proliferation risks and also threaten regional strategic stability.

Underscoring Pakistan's fulfilment of its non-proliferation obligations, he noted the adoption of several measures, including a comprehensive export control regime and a unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing, which it was prepared to translate into a bilateral arrangement with India.

Earlier, UN Deputy-Secretary-General Jan Eliasson underlined the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction in the wrong hands and called on the international community to "take advantage of every opportunity to strengthen our collective defences that are nimble and flexible.

Stressing the threats of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons as well as of the "growing nexus" between such weapons, terrorism and cyber security, he added: "The nightmare scenario of a hack on a nuclear power plant causing uncontrolled release of ionizing radiation is growing."

He further underlined the importance strengthening the capacities of all countries to combat such threats and called on them to fulfil their commitment to build a world that is free of all weapons of mass destruction.