China's Nuke Trade

It is understandable that India should worry about the implications of the China-Pakistan civil nuclear deal, in which Beijing has agreed to supply reactors to Islamabad. The concern arises from Pakistan’s near-certain nuclear proliferation with AQ Khan at the head of the nuclear establishment. There is enough evidence to infer that Khan has supplied centrifuges to aid Iran’s nuclear programme, and there has been a secret transaction with North Korea as well.

On the face of it, China’s sale of reactors to Pakistan is unexceptionable because they are meant for generating electricity. Apprehensions arise because Pakistan’s political, military and scientific establishments have always acted in a manner that is contrary to the spirit of nuclear non-proliferation. They have indulged in acts that endanger regional and global security.

Pakistan as a nursery for global jihad only proves the point that it cannot be relied upon to conform to the security imperatives.

Americans are quite worried over the deal because of the volatile security climate in Pakistan. The main concern of Washington is that nuclear facilities should not ever fall into the hands of Islamic militants. Islamabad has been giving assurances that there is no likelihood of such a dangerous outcome. And Pakistan’s political and military leaders did not hesitate to use this as a bargaining counter for economic and military aid. The demand has always been that to avert a disaster, the rest of the world must guarantee the viability of the state of Pakistan. This included assurances that India will not pose a challenge to Pakistan. Islamabad did not ever hesitate to use blackmail as a foreign policy tactic. It is this tendency that makes it the bad boy in the international community.

It would be unfair for India or others to argue that Pakistan should be denied nuclear technology for civilian purposes. But there is certainly need for sufficient assurances and safeguards to see to it that Pakistan does not misuse its access to strategic technology for military purposes. China as a supplier would indirectly and inevitably become a guarantor for the good behaviour of Pakistan. With China emerging as the leading economic power in the world, it cannot shrug off its global obligations. That is why, it could not avoid a tough stand on Iran’s nuclear programme. A similar stance will be necessary on the part of China in the case of Pakistan as well.