A CIVIL NUCLEAR DEAL: FOLLOW THE TRAIL

Monday, November 02, 2015 – PAKISTAN needs a civil nuclear deal, similar to the 2005 US-India deal, to get entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). If Pakistan can get such an entry without a deal with the US, then there is no need to go through the tortuous process with the US that will involve the Administration, Congress and anti-nuclear lobbies. But that option does not seem feasible.
Pakistan is a de jure nuclear weapon state because its never joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). A nuclear deal, an NSG waiver and entry into the NSG would create wider acceptance for our nuclear status and open doors for nuclear technology and knowhow.