Seoul: Ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit
here next week, India on Saturday voiced concerns over Pakistan`s nuclear programme saying it has "very little confidence" on the capabilities of its western neighbour on securing its atomic assets.
"We have very little confidence that their nuclear
programs are secure or will stay safe," sources said when
asked about the security of atomic materials in Pakistan.
The possibility of "insider threat" was the prime concern
among the Indian establishment and building capacities would be the key element in India`s pitch at the Nuclear Security Summit which begins here on Monday.
"The real problem is the insider threat," the sources said
talking about Pakistan`s nuclear programme.
The sources cautioned that the fissile material could get
into the hands of terrorists, who could use it to make dirty
bombs.
They said an insider could be a person having legitimate
reason to hold and control nuclear materials but who could
also do the same for illegitimate purposes.
Multilateral meetings, like the Nuclear Security Summit,
help in building capacities and building cooperation with
countries but each country needs to shoulder the
responsibility of protecting its own nuclear assets.
Concerns over nuclear security have heightened,
particularly in the wake of the Fukushima accident, as
officials fear that fissile material from such crippled
reactors could fall in wrong hands if proper steps were not
taken to secure it.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to unveil before
the Summit the steps India has taken to tackle challenges of
nuclear terrorism.
Singh is also expected to meet his Pakistan counterpart
Yusuf Raza Gilani in Seoul on the sidelines of the Summit.
Officials did not confirm a meeting between Singh and
Gilani but pointed out that they would be in the same room for most part of Tuesday.
Singh and Gilani are among the 54 leaders expected in
Seoul for the Second Nuclear Security Summit being hosted by South Korea.
India has voiced concern over the safety of Pakistan`s
nuclear assets when militants has attacked a naval base near
Karachi a couple of years back.
On Iran, the sources said that Tehran`s pursuit of nuclear
energy was not on the agenda of the Summit but it may find
mention in individual statements made by world leaders.
"On the Iran question, our position has been consistent.
We have told the Iranaians, talk to people, settle their
doubts," the sources said.
They said none of the world leaders have said that Iran
was making nuclear weapons.
"Nobody we have talked to including the Americans and the
Israelis says Iran has decided to make nuclear weapons.
They are saying that Iran was getting into a position from where it
could at a later date acquire the capacity to make weapons.
"At that point it would be difficult to stop it," the
sources said.
They said Iran has agreed to start talks again with the
International Atomic Energy Agency in April.
"Military action would not help solve the problem," the
sources said referring to reported threats from Israel to
launch strikes on Iran in a bid to cripple its nuclear
programme.
PTI
