Pakistan also offers nuclear security skills to world

Pakistan is ready to share with nations its competence in the area of nuclear security, particularly prevention, detection and response to illicit trafficking, said the paper Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani presented at one of the sessions at the Washington summit earlier this week. –Photo by Reuters

WASHINGTON: In a policy paper presented to leaders from nearly 50 nations, Pakistan offered to share with other states its nuclear security skills, particularly in prevention, detection and response to illicit trafficking. In a similar document, presented at the Washington nuclear security summit, which ended on Tuesday, Pakistan declared that it had acquired advanced nuclear fuel cycle capability and can offer it to the rest of the world under IAEA safeguards. “Pakistan is ready to share with nations its competence in the area of nuclear security, particularly prevention, detection and response to illicit trafficking,” said the paper Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani presented at one of the sessions at the Washington summit earlier this week. The same document contained two other equally significant points: nations need to cooperate with each other in acquiring reliable nuclear security and that India needed to work with Pakistan for protecting South Asia against a nuclear disaster. “Of course, legally, nuclear security is a national responsibility. But nations do not act alone. They cooperate with each other to learn and to establish formal and informal networks,” said the clause dealing with international cooperation. Another clause directed specifically at South Asia, noted: “Regional stability is important for nuclear security. We believe that Pakistan’s proposals on a Strategic Restraint Regime in South — with its three elements of nuclear and missile restraint, a balance in conventional forces, and conflict resolution — will go a long way in making our region secure and stable.” The document reminds the world leaders that Pakistan had already concluded with India several CBMS. These include pre-notification of ballistic missile testing, establishment of a hotline, prevention of attacks on nuclear installations and facilities, and an agreement on reducing the risk of accidents relating to nuclear weapons. “These efforts must continue. And our two nations — Pakistan and India — must continue to invest in a sustained and constructive dialogue.” After sharing with the world leaders its ‘competence’ in the fields of nuclear security and fuel production, Pakistan reminds the rest of the world: “To meet its growing demand for energy for economic development, Pakistan plans to produce 8,800 Megawatts of nuclear energy by 2030.” But this would “constitute only 5.4 per cent of the total energy mix.” The document then moves to the moot point: “We urge all relevant forums to take steps to enable Pakistan to access civil nuclear energy and technology, in a non-discriminatory manner, under IAEA safeguards.” The entire document reflects Islamabad’s new confidence in promoting itself as a state not only capable of protecting its installations but also ready to offer services and goods to others. In the process, Pakistan also got rid of the apologetic posture it had adopted since February 2004 when Dr A. Q. Khan confessed to running a proliferation ring. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/pakistan-also-offers-nuclear-security-skills-to-world-640

Bin Laden's tape delivered from India??

Abu Dhabi—Diplomatic and media sources in the Gulf have traced the dispatch of Osama bin Laden’s recent audio statement to Indian city of Bangalore. According to a senior journalist the audio message of Osama bin Laden which was received last week by Al Jazeerah TV was sent via a courier from India. In his recent message Osama bin Laden had warned to kill American hostages if any of Al-Qaeda men was executed after summary trial by the U.S. court. Area specialists confirm that at least one more such audio tape released in 2006 was also handed over to a courier in Hyderabad India who delivered it to contact in an Arab TV office in the Middle East. Although no one is sure about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden but some anti-terror experts have traced his last footprints and they say that he was last seen in India in the year 2003. Area specialists also confirm that the last time places Osama had visited his two wives was in Hyderabad (India) and Bangalore making detour through Assam, Hyderabad and New Delhi. Experts are confused as to how in 2003 when he was most wanted man of the world he could visit India without the blessings of the Indian government and Indian Intelligence RAW. It is important to note that in 2003 Indian newspaper Hindu had reported presence of Osama in Indian-held Kashmir but the Indian General Deepak Kapoor had swiftly denied his presence there while some Western intelligence had confirmed his presence in South India in 2003. It is believed that the visit must have been facilitated by Indian government/RAW and the decision to allow him at least one visit showed that India did not consider Osama bin Laden to be a threat to Indian interests. Area watchers maintain that keeping in view the enhanced strategic relations between Indian and the United States and the American huge intelligence monitoring capabilities it was not possible that at least some of the American diplomats in New Delhi were unaware of the visit of Osama bin Laden to India and his meetings with his wives. Anti-terror experts puzzled that instead of tracing him further from India, they keep making frivolous allegations of his presence in Pakistan. The fact of the matter is that India government and RAW are in a better position to throw light on his exit from India if any and his present location. http://andhralekha.com/news/11-27165-Bin%20Laden's%20tape%20delivered%20from%20India??