Presenttion of General (R) Ehsan ul Haq presided 2nd Session
General (R) Ehsan ul Haq
General (R) Ehsanul Haq former joint chiefs of staff committee speaking in a seminar on ‘FMCT-Problems & Prospects held at a hotel in Islamabad, organized by Rabita Forum international 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 first initiated nor first proliferated and or first detonated the atomic bomb.
It was after the Indian detonation, Pakistan started the nuclear program just to make the regional balance of power right. 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 standard 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 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. 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. He gavethe details of the stockpiles of USA 85.9 METRIC TONS, RUSSIA 170.4, FRANCE 42, UK 93.68, CHINA 1.8, INDIA 4.920, ISRAEL 0.82, PAKISTAN 0.82 AND North Korea 0.03 metric tons.
That means Pakistan has more fissile material than North Korea only. Still, the west would like that Pakistan to stop the production of this material. 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.
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 had 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. Maria Sultan, Dr Zafar, Dr. Shireen Mazari and Dr. Rizwana Abbasi.
More than two hundred participated in first session including the ambassadors / representatives of France, Holland, North Korea, Netherland, Russia, China Australia, Iran and other and others including Professors and M. Phils students from Numal, Quide Azam University, National Defense University, Comsats.
There were senior former Pakistani Ambassadors also. The French Ambassador joined in the second session while the French Press attaché was all the time present in the seminar. The event was well organized, very informative and interactive.
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.
A bomb does not have the religion; otherwise we have to say a Christian bomn, a Jew bomb and vegetarian bomb. 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. 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 to stop production. 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.
Dr. Huma Baqai gave a detailed presentation on FMCT, explaining the blind spots and the 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 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. Rizwana gave a detailed presentation about FMCT, the political issues involved and models. 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.
Question answer session was conducted, in which a former ambassador to Egypt from Pakistan, asked the guest speakers some question also Netherlands’s counselor also tried to get clarification, whereas, a few 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