China has made it clear to India that its civil nuclear cooperation with Pakistan will be in accordance with international obligations.
New Delhi will “wait and see” how Beijing presses ahead with its plans to build two nuclear reactors in Pakistan’s Chashma II plant, visiting National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon told the Indian media here wrapping up his four-day China visit.
“We discussed the issue (of nuclear reactors to Pakistan) with them (Chinese leaders) on two or three occasions. They told us that what they are doing will be in accordance with their international obligations. We will wait and see where this is going,” he said.
Asked how international obligations can be enforced, Mr Menon, who was here as PM Manmohan Singh’s special envoy, said “we do not enforce international obligations. We will wait and see how it develops. It is not for us to enforce. The Nuclear Suppliers Group has its own guidelines. They told us what they are doing. It is still an evolving situation.” China formally informed NSG recently about its plans to build the nuclear reactors for Pakistan.
Mr Menon’s remarks coincided with the arrival of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari here on a six-day visit with Pakistani diplomats asserting that issues relating to the nuclear power plants were very much on his agenda.
The NSA, who held talks with Premier Wen Jiabao, foreign minister Yang Jiechi and state councillor Dai Bingguo, however, refuted the perception that his visit here ahead of Mr Zardari’s China tour was aimed at discussing issues relating to the Sino-Pak nuclear deal. —PTI