US-Pak negotiations on nuclear cooperation?

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I understand that these are simply 'talks about talks' but hypothetically speaking, even if the Obama administration agrees, won't congress have to approve it? If so, I doubt Pakistan would ever get a similar deal, healthcare just passed last night so Obama's in no shape to push another controversial deal through congress, not to mention the whole Iran imbroglio.

Given Pakistan's economic situation, Pakistan may be looking more at US support for an NSG waiver that allows it to deal with China and Western nations such as France that are more 'pragmatic' in terms of selling NPP's, rather than a nuclear deal with the US specifically.

We have been exploring construction of another 3-6 NPP's with China, based on the Chasma series of plants of 300MW each for a few years now.

The US-India nuclear deal barely passed the US legislature, and would likely have been voted down had it been delayed a few months when the democrats took control, so I doubt it would be any easier for Pakistan.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Pakistan to Look at Scientist’s Iran Ties​

By SALMAN MASOOD
Published: March 22, 2010

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani government has filed a petition in the nation’s High Court seeking to investigate Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist who has confessed to running the world’s largest nuclear proliferation network, over recent reports about his ties to Iran’s nuclear program, a government lawyer said Monday. The petition was filed on Monday hours before a court in Lahore was to announce a verdict on Mr. Khan’s petition to have his travel restrictions relaxed.

The court is expected to issue its ruling Wednesday on both, according to lawyers for the government and Mr. Khan.

The government filed its request in an effort to investigate Mr. Khan regarding recent news reports in which he was said to have confessed to supplying Iran with sensitive information related to the nuclear program.

A copy of the government petition obtained by The New York Times cited two articles published on March 10 and 14 by The Washington Post that “have national security implications for Pakistan as they contain allegations related to nuclear program and nuclear cooperation. Further they have likelihood of adversely affecting friendly ties with the government of Iran and Iraq.” The petition requested the court to direct Mr. Khan to “refrain from interacting with foreign media.”

The article published on March 14 reported that Mr. Khan had disclosed in a written document that Pakistan gave Iran drawings related to a nuclear bomb, parts of centrifuges to purify uranium and a secret worldwide list of suppliers. The article published on March 10 cited a nuclear weapons expert who said members of Mr. Khan’s network had reached out to Saddam Hussein’s government in 1990.

Both Mr. Khan and the Pakistani government have denied these claims.

The government appeared to have filed its request partly to stall the court ruling on Mr. Khan’s petition, and it came as Pakistan’s powerful army chief, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, was in the United States for high-level security talks.

Syed Ali Zafar, the lawyer for Mr. Khan, called the government’s petition “irrelevant.”

“Today’s government application is mischief by the government, as it wants to defer the case,” Mr. Zafar said. He added that Mr. Khan had been given a public affidavit saying that his hands are clean.

The government lawyer, Naveed Inayat Malik, declined in a telephone interview to offer further information on how the court handled the government’s request.

“The court proceedings were held in-camera,” he said referring to a term used here to describe classified proceedings. “It is, therefore, not possible for me to talk about the proceedings.”

A government spokesman told local news outlets last week that the Khan network was a “closed chapter.”

Pakistani authorities have continuously rebuffed international nuclear investigators who want to interview Mr. Khan for his proliferation activities.

Mr. Khan was placed under house arrest in 2004 by Pervez Musharraf, the president at the time, after confessing to selling nuclear technology to various countries. American officials say they believe that among them were Iran, Libya and North Korea.

But Mr. Khan’s role in developing Pakistan’s nuclear program also gave him the status of a national hero within the country. Right-wing and Islamist political parties continue to praise him as the “father of the bomb.”

In February, a court in the capital, Islamabad, declared Mr. Khan a free man, but the government assured the United States that it would continue to monitor him, and he was allowed to meet with friends and family only after getting approval from the security agencies.

Waqar Gillani contributed reporting from Lahore, Pakistan.

Pakistan to Investigate Khan?s Ties to Iran?s Nuclear Program - NYTimes.com

============

Coincidence?

Chidanand Rajghatta has this alleged quote attempting to explain the decision:

"What happened under A.Q Khan was a mistake. We are very keen to seek civil nuclear reactors from the US and we want to demonstrate to them that proliferation will neither ever be allowed or tolerated again in Pakistan," an unnamed Pakistani foreign ministry official was quoted as telling US network television.​

Seeking nuclear parity with India, Pak re-opens Khan of worms - US - World - The Times of India

 

[Spitfighter]

Am really embarrased by the reaction of indian media.. I dont India having any problem in Pakistan getting a nuclear deal. As if Pakistan does not have nukes now and will get Nukes as a result of this deal.

From India's perspective, nothing could be worse. We all know that the deal has allowed India to secure nuclear fuel from abroad thereby allowing us to divert our own stocks to the military. Pakistan may already have nukes, but one nuke is better than two.

In any case, I'm sure congress will have to approve the deal first. Obama's been taking a lot of flak lately over the health care bill, and then again there are several powerful lobbies in the country (ours included) that would make it near impossible for him to push the deal through congress.

Then there's Iran....

 

[DaRk WaVe]

Indians are jumping, we need to wait

'US not discussing civil nuclear pact with Pak'​

Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Mar 22 (PTI) The US today dismissed reports that was it was mulling negotiations on a civil nuclear agreement with Pakistan.

"The US has not entered (into) negotiations on a civil nuclear agreement with Pakistan," a spokesperson of the US embassy in the capital told PTI, a day after media reports said Washington may discuss Islamabad's request for cooperation in setting up nuclear power plants in the country.

"The United States is committed to helping Pakistan address its real and growing energy needs, and we look forward to cooperating with Pakistan in ways that are compatible with Pakistan's economic, environmental and security needs and with US international commitments and policies," it said.

A US-based Pakistani newspaper had recently quoted US Ambassador Anne W Patterson as saying that Washington is "beginning to have a discussion with the Pakistan government" on its desire to tap nuclear energy.

fullstory

Then there's Iran...

Iran is your hope here & in Afgh Mess

 

[Spitfighter]

Given Pakistan's economic situation, Pakistan may be looking more at US support for an NSG waiver that allows it to deal with China and Western nations such as France that are more 'pragmatic' in terms of selling NPP's, rather than a nuclear deal with the US specifically.

Sounds unlikely given Obama's current standing and Iran but we'll have to wait and watch.

 

[WhiteKnight1]

From India's perspective, nothing could be worse. We all know that the deal has allowed India to secure nuclear fuel from abroad thereby allowing us to divert our own stocks to the military. Pakistan may already have nukes, but one nuke is better than two.

In any case, I'm sure congress will have to approve the deal first. Obama's been taking a lot of flak lately over the health care bill, and then again there are several powerful lobbies in the country (ours included) that would make it near impossible for him to push the deal through congress.

Then there's Iran....

Since when did you become India ambassador to U.S.?

 

[Spitfighter]

Pakistan to Look at Scientist’s Iran Ties​

Coincidence?

Definitely not. Pakistan is pushing hard indeed.

Chidanand Rajghatta has this alleged quote attempting to explain the decision:

"What happened under A.Q Khan was a mistake. We are very keen to seek civil nuclear reactors from the US and we want to demonstrate to them that proliferation will neither ever be allowed or tolerated again in Pakistan," an unnamed Pakistani foreign ministry official was quoted as telling US network television.​

Seeking nuclear parity with India, Pak re-opens Khan of worms - US - World - The Times of India

I hope and pray the GoI isn't sitting by idly and watching from the sidelines.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Given Pakistan's economic situation, Pakistan may be looking more at US support for an NSG waiver that allows it to deal with China and Western nations such as France that are more 'pragmatic' in terms of selling NPP's, rather than a nuclear deal with the US specifically.

We have been exploring construction of another 3-6 NPP's with China, based on the Chasma series of plants of 300MW each for a few years now.

The US-India nuclear deal barely passed the US legislature, and would likely have been voted down had it been delayed a few months when the democrats took control, so I doubt it would be any easier for Pakistan.

Patterson's comments support the possibility of discussions with the US over support for an NSG waiver rather than a commitment to negotiate on a potential US-Pak nuclear deal:

"We are beginning to have a discussion with the Pakistan Government" on the country's desire to tap nuclear energy.

She said these would be "working level talks" on the issue in Washington this month. "Earlier on, non-proliferation concerns were quite severe. I think we are beginning to pass those and this is a scenario that we are going to explore...," Patterson said.​

 

[DaRk WaVe]

Seeking nuclear parity with India, Pak re-opens Khan of worms​

WASHINGTON: Straining to achieve a semblance of parity with India centered on a civilian nuclear deal similar to the one New Delhi signed with the United States, Pakistan has declared its intention to re-open investigations into the proliferation activities of its nuclear mastermind A.Q.Khan.

Just 48 hours before a US-Pakistan strategic dialogue is set to begin in Washington DC, the Pakistani government filed a petition in the nation's High Court seeking to investigate Khan over recent reports about his ties to Iran's nuclear program.

The move is seen widely as a ploy to appease Washington, where there is a strong anti-Iran sentiment and continued doubts about Pakistan's bonafides as a responsible nuclear power. Pakistani officials made no secret of the motive behind the legal manoevre, saying it was meant to demonstrate to the US and other foreign countries that Pakistan had taken every possible step to block the future possibility of nuclear proliferation.

"What happened under A.Q Khan was a mistake. We are very keen to seek civil nuclear reactors from the US and we want to demonstrate to them that proliferation will neither ever be allowed or tolerated again in Pakistan," an unnamed Pakistani foreign ministry official was quoted as telling US network television.

The move follows indications from Washington that it is open to discussions with Pakistan on the nuclear energy front at the upcoming ministerial-level talks on Wednesday, although getting a civilian nuclear deal for the country with a nightmarish record of proliferation and use of terrorism as state policy will require a lot more than just bilateral goodwill.

In a statement seen in some quarters as being placatory towards Pakistan than expressing any real intent, US envoy to Islamabad Anne Patterson in an interview last week that that Washington is ''beginning to have a discussion with the Pakistan Government'' on the country's desire to tap nuclear energy and ''working level talks'' are on the cards on March 24.

Pakistan has been eager to grab the opportunity, as much to showcase its idea of strategic parity with India than any real desire to address its energy problems, with doubts about its wherewithal to buy and absorb nuclear power reactors in the short term. The run-up to the March 24 talks has been full of horror stories about power outages across Pakistan.

The Pakistani government's petition before the court seeking to investigate Khan for proliferation also runs against its own oft-repeated claims that it has fully investigated the incidents and the ''matter is now closed.'' Apparently, it isn’t.

In its petition, the government has reportedly cited two articles published on March 10 and 14 by The Washington Post that it says ''have national security implications for Pakistan as they contain allegations related to nuclear program and nuclear cooperation. Further they have likelihood of adversely affecting friendly ties with the government of Iran and Iraq.''

The petition also requested the court to direct Khan to ''refrain from interacting with foreign media.'' The articles, based on a new book by non-proliferation activist David Albright, essentially say Khan offered nuclear weapons know-how to Iran and Iraq.

Through leaks, Khan has been insisting that this happened with the full knowledge and at the behest of the Pakistani military and governments of the day. Successive US administrations have glossed over these disclosures, questioning Khan’s credibility and giving the benefit of doubt to Islamabad and Rawalpindi in an effort to salvage US-Pakistan ties. This is because of Pakistan's importance in the war in Afghanistan which cannot be conducted without physical ccess through Pakistan.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton set the stage for the bilateral talks by declaring ''Pakistan is close to my heart'' in a video message she sent out on the occasion of Pakistan’s National Day, which falls on March 23.

Wearing Pakistan’s green colors, Clinton said the United States is ''supporting Pakistan's efforts to...defeat the extremist groups who threaten Pakistan, the region, and even our own country.. this (first ministerial-level strategic) dialogue will be an opportunity to forge even closer ties between our nations.''

Seeking nuclear parity with India, Pak re-opens Khan of worms - US - World - The Times of India

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Iran is your hope here & in Afgh Mess

News about Iran's role in Afghanistan has not necessarily been to India's liking of late: Afghans say Iran arming Taliban, India in a fix - India - The Times of India

In a sense, given Iran's desire to serve as an energy hub, and cater to Pakistan's energy requirements to earn much needed moolah (not the human kind ), Iran serves Pakistan's purpose as well ...

 

[DaRk WaVe]

News about Iran's role in Afghanistan has not necessarily been to India's liking of late: Afghans say Iran arming Taliban, India in a fix - India - The Times of India

In a sense, given Iran's desire to serve as an energy hub, and cater to Pakistan's energy requirements to earn much needed moolah (not the human kind ), Iran serves Pakistan's purpose as well ...

wow!!
I missed it

R.I.P, India- Iran - Russia Nexus

 

[Bombay]

I bet you not, its the US plan to reach A.Q.Khan.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I bet you not, its the US plan to reach A.Q.Khan.

"What is life? Life is the nation. The individual must die anyway. Beyond the life of the individual is the nation."
-- Adolf Hitler

 

[karan.1970]

Patterson's comments support the possibility of discussions with the US over support for an NSG waiver rather than a commitment to negotiate on a potential US-Pak nuclear deal:

Wouldnt it be a tough sell for the US to get an NSG waiver for Pakistan without putting its nuclear tech where its mouth is..??

 

[vandemataram]

What do you base this speculation on? You haven't backed a single claim with the remotest reference.

Does not require any, all are self explanatory over here.

a) No Gas Pipeline with Iran-There is nothing to explain over here. Even as bombs and munitions get transported, USA will do everything under its command and control to stop the pipeline from being operational.

b) Full cooperation in stabilization of Afghan & post NATO force withdrawal support by Pak Army - I am not too sure about this though. Of late there is a shift in US policy vis-a-vis India regarding India's role in Afghanistan and related reconstruction efforts. I am sure the MEA is keeping a close watch over developments in Afghanistan, even as Mr Karzai has promised all help in terms of security to Indians working there. Further Karzai's statement on India beng a good friend, Pakistan being conjoined twins, things could be nastier for Indians in Afghanistan. This is a no brainer. I think USA is also looking to ramp down Indian presence in the region as will paly along with Paksitan on this, cause its objectives on GWOT is far from over. The American way into Afghanistan is still through Karachi.

c) Closing down all terrorist camps from Pakistan soil - Depends on how hard India can bargain. After 26-11 we have seen American double speak in such matters. All punjabi organizations such as Let are from a long time on US radar, but it is not going to do anything that eases off pressure on the Indians. A lot of movement has taken place and large scale condemnation of Pak has also taken place, but the hard fact remains and that it US will not pressurize Pakistan beyond a certain point, not to the point of appeasing the Indians.

d) Peace deal with India, and cooperation on anti terrorism - Doubtful again, depends on how can Pakistan puts across her points as bargaining chips. After all American interests lie with Pakistan in the near to medium term time frame.

e) No further nuclear tests - Yes could be high probability. I think Pakistan will have little choice in terms of this, even though it has not signed the CTBT, but still American pressure will keep ultra nationalism at bay. Additionally since the Pakistan economy is in a bad shape it cannot withstand further sanctions, particularly so when its weapon imports are so delicately associated with the NATO and US. And I am sure the Chinese might also back off from supplying to Pakistan

f) All nuke reactors under IAEA -US ..including military - Again depends on how hard can Pakistan bargain on this. Civlian inspection has to be allowed and that is what the deal is all about, as with the case of India. But whether Pakistan can do a India here by keeping out IAEA stuff from intervening in military part remains to be seen. Additionally the bill or whatever will also come attached with the civilian liability as part of it, incase of nuclear pilferage and civilian damages and casualties aka Chernobyl. Her ein India such as thing is pending in the lower house where the opposition demands the cap to be raised to USD 500 million.

It is interesting over here, how many companies can afford and also feel desirous to get into the nuclear tangle with civilian liability side attached and to up to what amount remains, again to be seen

and finally the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the issue of Nuclear Proliferation to deal with

My two cents gentlemen...