Worried US demands China nuclear pact details from Pak

LAHORE - The United States has asked Pakistan to give a detailed account of its nuclear pact with China, US Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke has said.

“We have asked Pakistan to provide details about the nuclear pact with China. It is yet to be seen what international requirements Pak-China nuclear pact fulfils,” the Nation quoted Holbrooke, as saying.

Holbrooke also revealed that Washington and Islamabad have held strategic talks to discuss about Pakistan’s desire to have nuclear technology cooperation with the US.

“We are well aware of the Pakistani strategic goal and desire. It’s one of the many things we have talked about frankly in private with our friends in Pakistan,” Holbrooke said.

The Obama administration is believed to be worried about China’s plans to build two new nuclear reactors in Pakistan.

China had begun building a nuclear reactor in Chashma in Pakistan’s Punjab province in 1991 and work on a second rector began in 2005, which is expected to be completed next year.

Under the new agreement, Chinese companies will build at least two new 650-MW reactors at Chashma.

According to reports, the deal between Pakistan and China bypasses Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) rules that bar sales of nuclear equipment to states that have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The US is also disturbed by revelations that a row of cooling towers at Pakistan’s secret Khushab-III reactor has been completed.

The project was revealed by satellite images obtained by Washington-based nuclear watchdog, the Institute for Science and International Security.

The cooling towers suggest the plant could begin operation within months, allowing Pakistan to substantially increase its stockpiles of weapons-grade plutonium.

Khushab-III is the latest in a series of reactors built to feed Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme.

Khushab-II, located next to its new sister plant, became operational in February. (ANI)