08-26-2010, 11:53 AM
ISLAMABAD – In a highly questionable move, the United Nations withheld the release of a key official document for more than two years. The document supported Pakistan’s steps towards non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which was released earlier this month.
Information exclusively available with this newspaper suggests that the note verbale number S/AC 44/2007/19, a copy of which is available with TheNation, was released on August 3, 2010 while it was scheduled to be released on June 3, 2008. The Permanent Mission of Pakistan to UN had sent the same document to the Chairman Security Council Committee. The 8-page note verbale provides a detailed account of all those steps that were taken by Pakistan to prevent the proliferation of WMDs regarding the implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), over the last few years. Whether it was the US pressure or the powerful individuals within the UN bureaucracy like Ban Ki-moon’s Chief of Staff Vijay Nambiar who influence policy decisions in international body, the fact aptly stands its ground that the preservation of the document from release for 26 good months by the UN earned Pakistan much of the uncalled for mudslinging regarding the so-called vulnerability of Pakistan’s nuclear programme to the militants.
“Since October 2005, the Government of Pakistan has taken a number of steps to further strengthen controls over goods, technologies, materials and equipment related to weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery,” the note verbale states.
According to the document, adoption of national control lists, export control on goods, technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and their Delivery Systems Act, 2004, establishment of the Strategic Export Control Division, 2005, and establishment of the Strategic Export Control Division in Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were some important steps on part of Government of Pakistan towards nuclear non-proliferation.
In addition, the implementation of the Nuclear Security Action Plan (NSAP), 2006, by Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and establishment of National Nuclear Security Emergency Coordination Centre and Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority Nuclear Safety and Security Training Centre are also highlighted in the UN’s document.
Information exclusively available with this newspaper suggests that the note verbale number S/AC 44/2007/19, a copy of which is available with TheNation, was released on August 3, 2010 while it was scheduled to be released on June 3, 2008. The Permanent Mission of Pakistan to UN had sent the same document to the Chairman Security Council Committee. The 8-page note verbale provides a detailed account of all those steps that were taken by Pakistan to prevent the proliferation of WMDs regarding the implementation of Security Council resolution 1540 (2004), over the last few years. Whether it was the US pressure or the powerful individuals within the UN bureaucracy like Ban Ki-moon’s Chief of Staff Vijay Nambiar who influence policy decisions in international body, the fact aptly stands its ground that the preservation of the document from release for 26 good months by the UN earned Pakistan much of the uncalled for mudslinging regarding the so-called vulnerability of Pakistan’s nuclear programme to the militants.
“Since October 2005, the Government of Pakistan has taken a number of steps to further strengthen controls over goods, technologies, materials and equipment related to weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery,” the note verbale states.
According to the document, adoption of national control lists, export control on goods, technologies, material and equipment related to nuclear and biological weapons and their Delivery Systems Act, 2004, establishment of the Strategic Export Control Division, 2005, and establishment of the Strategic Export Control Division in Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs were some important steps on part of Government of Pakistan towards nuclear non-proliferation.
In addition, the implementation of the Nuclear Security Action Plan (NSAP), 2006, by Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and establishment of National Nuclear Security Emergency Coordination Centre and Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority Nuclear Safety and Security Training Centre are also highlighted in the UN’s document.