France-India N-deal will result in “mistrust, non-cooperation”: Pak Foreign Office

LONDON - The multi-billion-dollar agreement finalised by France to sell two nuclear reactors to India would “inevitably result in mistrust” and have “serious security implications” at the regional and global levels, the Pakistan Foreign Office has said.

“We strongly believe that creating an exception for any country is not only a step backwards in terms of promoting peaceful nuclear cooperation but it also has serious security implications at the regional and global levels. Pakistan has always adhered to principles,” Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said during a press briefing, when asked how Pakistan feels about Paris-New Delhi relations, especially in the wake of a nuclear agreement between the two.

“In our considered view, country specific exceptions are inherently counterproductive, for these inevitably result in mistrust and non-cooperation. There is no tenable alternative to criteria-based approaches towards promoting international cooperation and peace and prosperity around the world,” he added.

When asked to comment on reports claiming that the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks said India has been supporting anti-state elements in Pakistan, Basit said, “We already know about that. We do not count on the WikiLeaks to corroborate this.”

Responding to another question about Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao’s statement that Kashmir was an integral part of India, the spokesman said: “Kashmir is not an integral part of India. It is awaiting settlement in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and India knows about that. So there is no need for me to comment on this.”

Basit also criticised Indian Home Secretary G K Pillai’s comment that Islamabad was not taking action due to fear that such an action would oblige Pakistan to spill the beans about its official role in the attacks, saying that his “remarks on the Mumbai attack trial in Pakistan are misleading, to say the least.”

“The Government of Pakistan is seriously pursuing the trial. Nevertheless, in order for the trial to conclude successfully, Indian cooperation, you will agree with me, is absolutely essential. India needs to do more on its side taking practical steps by responding to Pakistan’s requests in the context of the Mumbai trial rather than casting aspersions on our intentions,” he added.

When asked if some back-channel breakthroughs in Pakistan-India relations could be expected, and whether both countries were “working quietly to iron out differences to pave way for the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries”, Basit replied, “Our mission in New Delhi is in touch with the Indian External Affairs Ministry and their diplomatic mission in Islamabad is in touch with us. We are trying to work out something which is acceptable to both sides. There is no breakthrough.” (ANI)