Pakistan says waiver to India by US eroding non-proliferation norms

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has described the recent US decision to waive individual licensing requirements for export of high technology weapons exports to India as a disturbing continuation of policies of discrimination and exceptionalism, which would further eroding the longstanding non-proliferation norms.

Responding to media queries, the Foreign Office spokesperson underscored the serious implications on strategic stability arising from the cumulative effect of several civilian nuclear cooperation agreements between India and members of the export control regimes, the latest of which is the recent licensing waivers.

He said that Pakistan believes all states have the right to acquire and use advanced and dual use technologies for their socio-economic development under appropriate safeguards and without any discrimination.

Pakistan urges faithful adherence by all to the letter and spirit of the relevant international treaties and export control regimes, the spokesperson said, adding that Pakistan also calls on all states to carefully review their strategic export control policies that directly impinge on national security of Pakistan and undercut stated goals of preserving strategic stability in the region.

He said disavowal of established legal and normative frameworks regulating strategic goods and technologies only undermines the global rules-based order.