Pakistan may sign CTBT before India

ISLAMABAD, JAN 20: Pakistan's military-led Government has made it clear that it would like to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT...

ISLAMABAD, JAN 20: Pakistan’s military-led Government has made it clear that it would like to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The issue was again on the agenda of visiting delegations from Britain and the United States here last week.

Despite the flak its been getting from the pro-nuclear religious Right-wing groups, the Government is preparing the ground for signing before India.

British Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Sir Charles Guthrie who was on a rare diplomatic assignment for London, met with his counterpart-cum-chief executive of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, to discuss this country’s relations with India, terrorism, a time-frame for the restoration of democracy, and the CTBT.

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A four-member US Senate delegation of Tom Daschle, Harry Reid, Daniel Akaka and Christopher Dodd, who were visiting at the same time, also held discussions on similar issues.

The outcome of both their meetings and that of Karl Inderfurth, US Assistance Secretary of State who will be in Islamabadbefore month end, could influence the decision of US President Bill Clinton’s to add Pakistan to his itinerary during his South Asia tour, scheduled for March.

Sir Charles Guthrie was all praise for the ongoing public debate on the CTBT, initiated by the Government. According to a foreign office spokesman, "the Government is trying to let the people see and come to a conclusion on what the CTBT is and is not. The idea is to educate and increase their understanding of the treaty and evolve a consensus."