Indo-US N-deal to impact stability in South Asia: Pak

Islamabad, January 27

Peeved at the breakthrough in the operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal, Pakistan today said the move for "political and economic expediencies" would have a "detrimental" impact on deterrence stability in South Asia.

Hours after US President Barack Obama concluded his unprecedented second visit to India, Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz opposed India's bid for membership to the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

"The operationalisation of Indo-US nuclear deal for political and economic expediencies would have a detrimental impact on deterrence stability in South Asia. Pakistan reserves the right to safeguard its national security interests," he said.

During his three-day visit, Obama held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as both countries broke a seven-year logjam to operationalise a landmark civil nuclear deal, besides enhancing defence and trade ties.

Apart from clearing the obstacles for the implementation of the civil nuclear deal, President Obama reaffirmed the US' position that India is ready for NSG membership. — PTI