ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has said that it will sign the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) only after it is recognised as a nuclear state.
Pakistan's assertion came in response to concerns voiced by Japan over nuclear proliferation.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who left Pakistan on Sunday after a two-day visit, had urged the Pakistani leadership to sign the NPT.
Pakistani leaders told Koizumi that any positive change in Islamabad's stance on NPT would not be forthcoming before it was recognised as a nuclear weapon state.
The renewed demand by the Japanese prime minister for signing the NPT came ahead of a month-long international conference to review the treaty starting Monday at the UN headquarters in New York.
The NPT came into effect in 1970 with the aim of preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting the peaceful use of atomic energy.
Under the treaty only Britain, China, France, Russia and the US are allowed to have nuclear arms with other signatory countries banned from possessing them.
Pakistan, India and Israel who are also nuclear states have so far refused to sign the treaty.
I have always wondered what gives the the 'other five' the right to posess it but keep it from the others!
Should India and Pakistan comply?
Pakistan will never sign the treaty unless India and Israel do so.
Pakistan's assertion came in response to concerns voiced by Japan over nuclear proliferation.
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who left Pakistan on Sunday after a two-day visit, had urged the Pakistani leadership to sign the NPT.
Pakistani leaders told Koizumi that any positive change in Islamabad's stance on NPT would not be forthcoming before it was recognised as a nuclear weapon state.
The renewed demand by the Japanese prime minister for signing the NPT came ahead of a month-long international conference to review the treaty starting Monday at the UN headquarters in New York.
The NPT came into effect in 1970 with the aim of preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting the peaceful use of atomic energy.
Under the treaty only Britain, China, France, Russia and the US are allowed to have nuclear arms with other signatory countries banned from possessing them.
Pakistan, India and Israel who are also nuclear states have so far refused to sign the treaty.
I have always wondered what gives the the 'other five' the right to posess it but keep it from the others!
Should India and Pakistan comply?
Pakistan will never sign the treaty unless India and Israel do so.
Comment