Fissile Material Cut off Treaty
Discriminatory and Pakistan specific to limit Pakistan’s Security. (Seminar conducted on 3rd April, 2012 at Marriot Islamabad, by the Rabita Forum international)
Nusrat Mirza
Summary
Introduction
The seminar was conducted, basically to create awareness and explain Pakistan’s stance on FMCT along with the political, strategic and national issues and concerns involved. The seminar was arranged in two sessions. The first session was chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain along with the guest speakers, Dr. Tanveer, Dr. Zafar Iqbal and Dr. Huma Baqai. Whereas, the second session was chaired by former Joint Chief of Staff Committee General (Rtd) Ehsan ul Haq and the guest speakers were Dr. Shireen Mazari, Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, Dr. Maria Sultan and Dr. Rizwana Abbasi. More than two hundred participated in first session including the ambassadors/representatives of France, Holland, North Korea, Netherland, Russia, China (press), Iran and Australia together with Professors and M. Phils attended from Namul, Quide Azam University, National Defense University, Comsats and others. The senior former Pakistani Ambassadors also participated; the French Ambassador joined in the second session while the French Press attaché was all the time present in the seminar. The Australian Pakistani press/ political attaché came for a while. There was a lunch served between the two sessions. The event was well organized, very informative and interactive.
FMCT (Fissile Material Cut off Treaty)
Fissile material cut off treaty is basically a multilateral, discriminatory negotiation to reach a treaty that proposes plans to stop the production of nuclear material in future. This is Pakistan specific and would like to limit Pakistan’s security. Other countries have stock piles of Fissile material whereas Pakistan has very limited production of Nuclear weapons and stocks. But West would like that Pakistan should stop production of fissile material. Pakistan’s point of view is that (1) Other countries reduce their stockpiles (2) Pakistan be given similar status and access to Nuclear groups and material as that has been given to India (3) The negotiations to reach the agreement on (i) Preventive armament outer space “PAROS” (ii) Negative Security Assurance (NSA) that America will attack non-nuclear states (iii) Nuclear Disarmament and (FMCT) be discussed altogether. Nuclear weapons, no doubt, have remained a threat to mankind. FMCT is aimed to control the production of nuclear material, but the terms and conditions of the treaty remain undefined and ambiguous. FMCT is on US radar, due to Obama’s personal legacy that earned him the Nobel peace prize in 2009, But he is working against the peace anyhow. More wars and deployments of troops and increasing the numbers of the bases and killings have been seen during his first tenure. FMCT does not explain the policy towards the existing stockpiles of nuclear material.
Session 1
The first session started with the Tilawat e Quran. Mr. Zafar Imam Advocate recited a verse from Holy Quraan. Brief Welcome Address was delivered by the Chairman of Rabita Forum international.
The first speakers being Dr.Huma baqai.
Dr. Huma Baqai gave ground realities involved. She also explained the US, China, India and Israel’s concerns regarding FMCT. She advocated Pakistan’s view point and response to the treaty. She said, “Pakistan’s nuclear stance is security driven and not status driven”.
Dr. Tanveer Ahmad Khan explained the FMCT, and the Pakistani perspective in the light of his own personal experience. Dr. Tanveer is the former Secretary Information and Foreign affairs, thus had a profound practical experience regarding the FMCT, and he added to the knowledge of the participants of the seminar.
Dr. Zafar Iqbal Cheema gave a very detailed presentation about FMCT, with the statistical facts and figures of the nuclear material owned by the nuclear states including Pakistan. His presentation attracted the concerns of the participants, as in the end of his presentation; he suggested negotiations to be taken into account for the FMCT. He also explained that Pakistan may not sign the treaty, but going for negotiation is not a bad option at all. Dr. zafar Iqbal’s presentation was followed by the question answer session, where the participants asked questions from every guest speaker. Dr. Zafar was asked more questions regarding his suggestions about negotiations and all questions were answered efficiently.
Mushahid Hussain Sayed, was very active in keeping the participants involved by having an interactive way to keep the decorum of the seminar. In his presidential remarks Senator Mushhid Hussain Sayed said Pakistan does not want an arm race in the region and its nuclear program is only to ensure security and maintain a strategic balance in the region. Pakistan has very effective, strong and transparent security and safety mechanism in place which has ensured the safety of nuclear program. He has also said that Pakistan’s bomb is not an Islamic bomb as west propagates but it is for our security; otherwise there will be Christian, Jews and vegetarian bombs. The first session was followed by tea break and lunch. The second session started soon, after the lunch.
Session 2
The second session was chaired by Gen (Rtd) Ehsan ul Haq, and the guest speakers were Dr. Maria Sultan, Dr. Zafar, Dr. Rizwana and Dr. Shireen Mazari.
Dr. Rizwana Abbasi gave a detailed presentation about FMCT, the political issues involved and models explaining the issue in detail, with relevant facts and figures. The presentation was much detailed and was more informative than any other presentation.
Dr. Maria Sultan further explained Pakistani concerns about the issue and elaborated the reason of why FMCT seems Pakistan specific, by explaining the Entry into Force (EiF). She also gave the statistical data and information about Nuclear reactors, by comparing Pakistan and India. She explained that multilateral agreements would be workable only if the states the security concerns of other states.
Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal gave detailed information about the historical background of FMCT. He posed in a different way by explaining his own views. He explained that while looking at treaties, it should be made sure that treaties come up with a “win-win” situation and results. He also stressed on the principle of universality. He clearly explained that no state can isolate any other state, so there is no need to get worried about isolation as a State. He termed India, Pakistan, US and other states as strategic competitors rather than enemies.
Dr. Shireen Mazari explained that Pakistan as a state has a few reservations about the treaty, as the treaty didn’t explain the reduction in nuclear stockpiles. She stressed on the fact that Pakistan won’t sign FMCT. She explained US concerns that if Pakistan didn’t sign the FMCT, the matter may be taken up in the UN general assembly. Dr. Shireen showed a confident stance about the US threat posed to Pakistan that it won’t hurt Pakistan’s interests, whereas, it will prove a blessing in disguise and would reduce the pressure on Pakistan. Pakistan may not sign the FMCT even after it has been taken up to the UN General Assembly.
Question answer session was conducted, in which a former ambassador to Egypt from Pakistan, asked severalquestions, whereas, many students from different universities asked the question about the Pakistan’s stance regarding the FMCT. All the guest speakers answered questions in a much professional way. General Ehsanul Haque very detailed message saying that there is consensus among the masses and the ruler over Pakistan’s atomic program. Gen Ehsanul Haq former joint chiefs staff committee said that Pakistan’s nuclear program is peaceful one but Pakistan will never compromise on its security needs and interest.
In fact Pakistan has reluctantly started the nuclear the program. Pakistan, in the region has neither initiated nor proliferated and detonated the atomic bomb. It was after the Indian detonation, Pakistan started the nuclear program just to make right the regional balance of power. We were compelled to start the nuclear program. It was complete failure of international non proliferation organizations that India detonated bomb in 1974. The American Indian civil nuclear treaty is discriminatory, selective and demonstrates double standards of the west. It has serious implications in the region and the world. Pakistan cannot accept the FMCT because the other countries have stockpiles of atom bomb and Pakistan is out of proportion with respect to India and other countries.
Pakistan would also like that there should be agreement on prevention of arms in outer space (Paros), the negative security assurance and nuclear disarmament. Nonetheless, Whole Pakistani nation has the consensus over keeping and developing further our nuclear program for security and safety of the country and we are not going to compromise over it. In any case, Pakistan would like to keep credible deterrence. And there is complete national consensus on nuclear issue. Pakistan is a responsible nuclear power and it should be so considered. The papers and presentations of some of the speakers are published in this magazine together with the speeches of Gen. (R) Ehsanul haq and Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed.
Welcome Address by
Nusrat Mirza Chairman Rabita Forum Int’l in a full day Seminar on “FMCT-Problems and Prospects” on 3rd May 2012 at Hotel Marriott Islamabad.
I have the honor and privilege to welcome the Chief Guest, the Key note speaker, the learned speakers, the members of the Diplomatic corps, the scholars, professors and the students of different Universities; Quide Azam University, Numal, Comsat, Fatimah Jinnah University, National Defence University and to you all Ladies and gentlemen. I am highly grateful to Senator Mushid Hussain Sayed sahib, who was very kind to advise and assist in organizing this prestigious seminar. Well in spite of that he is a Senator, he is universally recognized intellectual and scholar and inspires young and old men and women. He has remained Minister of information and Media Resource.
He started his carrier in teaching and then became editor and then politician. General Ehsanul Haque does not need any introduction. Nevertheless, He reached to the level four stars general and Chairman Chiefs of Join Staff Committee. He is a nice person and respected in all circles. He has the opportunity to go abroad often for delivering the lecture and has remained very close to the subject matter Mohtarmah Hina Rabbani Khar Saheba is too busy internal and external puzzles; therefore, she couldn’t come to this seminar, though this seminar was of his utmost interest.
Rabita Forum international is a NGO, which has organized several seminars on burning issues and also tried its best in normalizing the relation between neighboring countries. We are proud to say that we have done something for the betterment of the region and the mankind. A brochure in your hands shall further demonstrate our activities. The copies of the papers that our speaker shall read out or shall address are also enclosed in envelop together with two magazines that we publish; the Interaction in English and Zaviah e Nigah in Urdu. I once again thank you to you all ladies and gentlemen.