Enmity to nuclear amnesty

Pakistan has been demanding to get access to global nuclear market. Pakistan believes that the civil nuclear technology can play an instrumental role for its socio-economic development and it will also reinforce the regional stability. International organizations, community and a key regional friend have readiness to provide assistance in non nuclear energy sector. But all aforementioned regional and extra regional forces have reluctance to provide a non-discriminatory access to Pakistan. This access will enable Pakistan to build its peaceful/civil nuclear program to meet its energy crisis.

The non-nuclear solution for Pakistan energy crisis is not an immediate practical option in the context of contemporary strategic environment of South Asia. The traditional non-nuclear way to support Pakistan to meet its energy challenges Pakistan is facing now a days, it will take indefinite time. Contrary to this Pakistan energy needs demand a speedy, smooth and interruptible process, in a possible limited time period. In This contextprocurement and installation of new nuclear power plants is a suitable resolution for Pakistan’s energy crisis. If we take a glimpse of foreign funded major non nuclear energy projects, which are in process, namely CACA 1000 and TAPI. These energy projects have Russian support to fulfill Pakistan energy needs; these projects will not become a reality unless this ongoing Global War on Terror inside Afghanistan not comes to an end. Afghanistan will be the transitory route for all the energy projects those are destined to Pakistan having Russian support. The instability of Afghanistan is major obstacle to accomplish the energy projects those are already in process and carry Russian support. It is a fact that no one can give a timeframe for a satisfactory stable environment in Afghanistan.

So the most appropriate step could be that nuclear supplier states should freely set off nuclear commerce with Pakistan. But matter of the fact is that, currently Pakistan is under a global nuclear ban underneath of a conflict-ridden reason that it is not a state party to Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This nuclear ban on Pakistan even for civil nuclear technology is imposed by Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG). In South Asia, India despite its non- NPT status has been rewarded with exception (NSG Waiver) to get access to civil nuclear technology. This became possible for India only after USA lobbying and support at NSG. Indo-USA nuclear cooperation set a positive environment for their bilateral strategic cooperation has turned the Cold War enmity, into mutual amnesty.

Pakistan politico-military leadership in this changing environment is firms to promote cordial bilateral relations with Russia and nuclear cooperation will lead them to their common goal, Cold War enmity to mutual amnesty. In this context, as a preliminary step South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) organized a Pak-Russia Nuclear Dialogue, on April 2, 2012, in Islamabad. More