Pak opposes US draft on WMD

Pakistan led the opposition on Thursday to a key US-drafted resolution banning the transfer of unconventional weapons to terrorists, saying ...

Pakistan led the opposition on Thursday to a key US-drafted resolution banning the transfer of unconventional weapons to terrorists, saying the measure could be used to justify military action.

Ambassador Munir Akram, whose country has been accused of proliferation, also said the UN Security Council was not the “most appropriate body” to oversee non-proliferation because all its five permanent members retained nuclear arms. At issue is a resolution hashed out over the past five months by permanent Security Council members. It would compel nations to adopt and enforce laws prohibiting a terrorist or “non-state actor” from getting weapons of mass destruction.

Voting is not expected until April end, but the US may have to consider amendments to the draft that seeks to fill a gap in international non-proliferation treaties. A target of the resolution could be Dr A.Q. Khan, the Pakistani scientist who smuggled nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran and Libya, and is now under house arrest. Siding with Pakistan were numerous non-aligned nations, including Malaysia and Indonesia, which participated in the debate.

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The draft, sponsored by the US, Britain, France, Romania, Russia and Spain, calls on governments to penalise those helping terrorists obtain weapons, but does not provide any sanctions if the states do not comply.

Instead, US officials said they relied mainly on “name and shame” pressures. But Indonesian envoy Rezlan Ishar Jenie said the Security Council should not enact global legislation requiring members to alter national laws. Only signatories to treaties could do that. —(Reuters)

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