Former caretaker foreign minister Inamul Haq has termed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) as an attempt to cap Pakistan's nuclear capabilities but UN permanent five members are legitimately possessing nuclear weapons in the presence of Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Speaking at workshop titled, 'The CTBT and Beyond,' organised by Strategic Technology Resources (STR) on Saturday, he said that FMCT will give India free hand to stockpile fissile material.
He said that existing stocks of fissile materials should be gradually reduced, eventually eliminating them with a schedule to transfer these stockpiles for civilian use with verification while transfers must be initiated by the states with the largest stockpiles of such materials. This would require nuclear weapon states to irreversibly down-blend existing stocks of weapons-grade fissile materials, ensuring they could never be used for weapons again, he added.
He said that FMCT is a ploy by the US against Pakistan, if stocks are depleted, it would increase disparities vis-à-vis India. He was of the view that US may attempt to use economic pressure to force Pakistan to give up fissile materials production and stockpiling which is totally against the strategic interest of Pakistan.
"The fragile economy might be a factor in influencing political leadership, policy and decision-makers in Pakistan to succumb to the pressure from Washington to endorse FMCT, which will a discriminatory move," he maintained. Inam went on to say that any compromise on FMCT, in terms of the issue of stockpiles would damage Pakistan permanently. "In fact one objective of the current US non-proliferation policy is to cap and eventually reverse the nuclear-weapons programme of Pakistan."
"The FMCT, although considered to be a non-discriminatory disarmament measure, global in its reach and universal in its application, is so only in intent. In real terms, it does not change the status quo nor does it in any way reduce the gap between the haves and the have-nots," he added. Renowned defence analyst, academe with ample grip on international relations, especially, big powers' game, Dr Shireen M Mazari said that if Pakistan's nuclear status is recognised, as done in case of India, we will be in a position to consider FMCT.
"We will not be compromising on our deterrence in future...succumbing to US pressure as it may approach UNGA if Pakistan did not budge from its principled stance," Shireen made it clear. Shireen said that Pakistan has the backing of Arabs in one way or another but if Islamabad bows down to any kind of external pressure, the Gulf states may take their own positions, adding that Pakistan has to resist US pressure on security issues through a well-thought and logic-quoted approach.
She emphasised that to single out Pakistan in proliferation, making mountain of a mole hill, is discriminatory. "We are under no obligation but US and France broke the non-proliferation treaty when they gave 'heavy water' to India. Post 9/11 has altered the parameters and structure of non-proliferation, she said, adding that now US will concentrate more on missile defence and low-yield nuclear weapons in fighting wars.
Shireen said that India not only has a much larger stockpile of weapon grade nuclear material but has also entered into a nuclear co-operation agreement with US, which allows it to import nuclear fuel from US for energy purposes, enabling it to produce material potentially be used for military purposes. India-US civil nuclear deal has altered the balance in the region, she said, strongly advocating for similar energy deal for Pakistan, putting aside the discriminatory attitude, which the US is resorting to at present.