USA objects to Chinese Nuclear Reactors Sales to Pakistan

India’s Nuclear Energy Growth plans has been facing obstacles from China which is using Pakistan as a proxy.Note Pakistan is the recepient of huge aid from both China and the US.Pakistan has been historically allied with USA though Afganistan has thrown a spanner in the relationship.Pakistan considers China as it most loyal friend as both countries are bound by their common enemity with India.China’s policy has been to subtly pressure India through opposition for Security Council Seats and providing military and nuclear technology to Pakistan.

China’s sale of tow 320 MW nuclear reactors to Pakistan has raised US hackles.Pakistan has been proved to be a known nuclear proliferator  supplying nuclear components and technology to countries such as North Korea.To supply more reactors would seem quite foolhardy,but for China it makes perfect sense.India’s deal with USA which removed its pariah status was a special one off case.Some countries like Australia had reservations about allowing the supply of nuclear fuel to India which has not signed the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.China is looking to play on such concerns by supplying these nuclear reactors to Pakistan.USA which was always concerned about Pakistani nuclear weapons falling into terrorist hands is opposing this deal.There have been rumors over the past few years that USA has control over Pakistan nuclear facilities as Taliban gains more influence in that country.

China Reactors Plan Fuels U.S. Concern – WSJ

The U.S. State Department is voicing growing concern about China’s proposed sale of two nuclear-power reactors to Pakistan, an issue that could complicate Washington’s latest efforts to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan.These officials said the State Department has also intensified discussions with China about its proposed nuclear sale and whether it would violate Beijing’s commitments to the major international body regulating nuclear trade, the Nuclear Suppliers Group.U.S. officials remain wary of Pakistan’s history of nuclear proliferation and the potential threat the Chinese reactor sale could pose to President Barack Obama’s broader nonproliferation agenda.

U.S. and U.N. officials allege that Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan had run the world’s biggest black market in nuclear technologies before his arrest in 2004. The U.S. views Pakistan as among the world’s most-prolific producers of the nuclear fuels required for producing atomic weapons.Pakistani officials counter that the U.S. is practicing a double standard by supporting the sale of nuclear technologies to India, but not Pakistan. Islamabad has been pressing the Obama administration to support a civilian nuclear-cooperation deal for Pakistan similar to India’s, but has so far been rebuffed.

Pak nukes already under US control: Report – TOI

Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are already under American control even as analysts are working themselves into a lather on the subject, a well-regarded intelligence journal has said. In a stunning disclosure certain to stir up things in Washington’s (and in Islamabad and New Delhi’s) strategic community, the journal Stratfor reported on Monday that the “United States delivered a very clear ultimatum to Musharraf in the wake of 9/11: Unless Pakistan allowed US forces to take control of Pakistani nuclear facilities, the United States would be left with no choice but to destroy those facilities, possibly with India’s help.”

The Stratfor commentary came in response to an earlier New York Times story that reported that the Bush administration had spent around $100 million to help Pakistan safeguard its nuclear weapons, but left it unclear if Washington has a handle on the arsenal.