Date:22/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/22/stories/2006112204601600.htm

International

Pakistan evasive on nuclear deal

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has played down reports of a deal with China for assistance in building six nuclear reactors during the November 23-26 visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

"The reports are speculative," said Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam, responding to questions at a briefing on Monday.

Mr. Hu is expected to sign a host of other agreements that will enhance ties between the two countries in "economic, social and cultural" spheres and pave the way for more Chinese investment in Pakistan, Ms. Aslam said.

Free trade agreement

She said Mr. Hu's visit would cap year-long celebrations to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

ccording to media reports, Pakistan and China are likely to sign a Free Trade Area agreement. But an agreement that is most eagerly hoped for in Pakistan is one on augmenting civilian nuclear energy co-operation between the two countries, with a deal similar to the one that the United States and India have concluded. China and Pakistan have a two-decade old Agreement for the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy, under which Beijing assisted in the building of Chashma-I and Chashma-II, each with a capacity of 300 MW. The second is still under construction. Recent media reports said Pakistan would seek Chinese assistance to build six more nuclear reactors. The spokeswoman refused to clarify if by describing the reports as speculative, she was ruling out the possibility altogether. The Chinese Foreign Ministry too has played down the reports. The Chinese spokeswoman said last week that "nowadays" nuclear cooperation with Pakistan was focussed on Chashma, and that she had "not heard of any arrangement to sign an agreement of nuclear co-operation" during the upcoming visit of Mr. Hu.

The U.S. has ruled out a nuclear pact with Pakistan, with Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns saying a few days ago that the Indo-U.S. pact was a "unique deal with a unique country".

However, Ms. Aslam said nuclear energy was part of Pakistan's strategy to meet energy requirements through co-operation with "various countries" including the U.S.