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U.S. asks China to halt plan for reactors to Pakistan

Washington: The U.S. has asked China to halt its plan to construct two more nuclear reactors in Pakistan and indicated that any new Sino-Pakistan cooperation in the atomic field would require “consensus” approval from the Nuclear Supplies Group (NSG), which was “difficult” to achieve.

“Although Pakistan’s energy needs are real and increasing, we believe Pakistan’s proliferation record would make NSG consensus difficult were China to request an exception,” State Department Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Matthew Reynolds said in a letter to Democrat Congressman from Massachusetts, Edward J. Markey.

Mr. Reynolds said Washington has already communicated its “position clearly” to Islamabad and Beijing. “The U.S. position is that cooperation on the construction of two new reactors, Chasma III and IV, would be inconsistent with the commitments China made at the time of its adherence to Nuclear Suppliers Group guidelines in 2004.

“We also have been in contact with other NSG members, a number of whom have expressed similar concern at the recent reports,” the State Department said in the letter, which was made public on Friday. Mr. Reynolds also said that the U.S. had sought and continued to seek clarification from Islamabad and Beijing on this matter. — PTI

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