Cornered by India and members of an international nuclear non-proliferation panel on disgraced nuclear scientist A Q Khan’s recent revelations, Pakistan once again proposed resumption of talks on the nuclear confidence building measures over the weekend. India, however, refused the offer citing lack of seriousness shown by Islamabad in taking action against the perpetrators of 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

This took place at the regional meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND) in New Delhi over the last three days — between October 2 and 4.

It is learnt that the Indian representatives at the meeting placed the facts emerging out of the recent A Q Khan letters — published in the British media — which said that Khan had approvals from the highest levels in the Pakistani establishment, in this case former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto, for proliferation activities. Indian participants were supported by the members of the ICNND, including its co-chairs, former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans and former Japanese foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi.

Representatives from Pakistan, it is learnt, didn’t have an answer to these posers and they initially tried to discredit India’s non-proliferation record and later struck a conciliatory note.

Sources said representatives from Pakistan urged New Delhi to resume the talks revolving around nuclear CBMs (confidence building measures). Pakistan’s participants at the conference urged the Indian participants to restart the talks to maintain “strategic restraint in the region”. Sources pointed out that the proposals from Pakistani side were nothing new. The Indian side refused the offer for resumption of talks by saying that unless Pakistan shows its seriousness in intent by taking credible action against the perpetrators of 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, there can be no talks at the bilateral level.

... contd.