After the nuclear security summit

The nuclear security summit, convened by President Obama, has ended after deliberations spread over two days. The idea behind the summit was to make the countries possessing nuclear weapons, or engaged in upgrading uranium, to realise the need for ensuring the security of nuclear material.
Washington fears that if terrorists managed to lay hands on the material in possession of several countries all over the world, in cases without proper safeguards, they could use it to cause large-scale destruction. The US would be the prime target as it is in the forefront in the war against militant extremism. There are a number of other countries also, who share the threat perception with the US.
The forty-seven presidents, prime ministers and senior officials present, in what is billed as the biggest-ever summit in Washington, agreed to secure all vulnerable nuclear material within four years. They also agreed to work together to enhance nuclear security. Four countries - Canada, Mexico, Ukraine and Chile - pledged to eliminate their surplus weapons-grade materials or to hand them over to the United States. Those attending the summit were asked to devise steps to deny plutonium and highly enriched uranium to terrorists.
The agreement brokered in Washington being voluntary and non-binding, Obama's critics maintain that the summit has not achieved anything concrete. Obama can, however, justifiably claim that he has succeeded in raising awareness about the dangers that lie ahead if the countries fail to clean up their nuclear surpluses and formulate detailed plans to secure them. A second summit is being planned, after two years, in South Korea to make sure the countries are on track.
Unlike the past, Pakistan was not under pressure over the security of its nuclear arsenal. Instead, weeks before the summit, President Obama expressed confidence in Pakistan's command and control system. The summit has also recognised the states' right to acquire nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. During his stay in Washington, Prime Minister Gilani, once again, assured the world that his country's nuclear arsenal was in safe hands. He also emphasised that Pakistan needed fissile material for minimum deterrence.
According to him, reservations maintained by some countries regarding Pakistan's nuclear arms falling into the hands of terrorists have also disappeared. "We will make independent decisions on nuclear programme defying any external pressure", he vowed. However, those who expected that Washington would agree to enter into nuclear treaty with Islamabad, similar to the one brokered with India, are bound to be disappointed. Obama, meanwhile, urged the countries that had failed to sign the NPT, to do so at the earliest.
There was also interaction between the leaders on the sidelines of the summit. Obama had a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao to persuade him to support sanctions against Iran. Speaking to reporters, Obama said he had insisted, while talking to President Hu that in dealing with Iran: "Words have to mean something. There have to be some consequences." Reportedly, Obama also offered to help China maintain steady fuel deliveries if sanctions against Iran led to a disruption of oil supplies.
Beijing, however, continued to maintain that while it did not support proliferation, seeking nuclear technology for peaceful purposes was the right of every country. Obama told the media that he had warned Tehran that he would be seeking new sanctions from the Security Council, which would be more stringent than before. A defiant Iran, however, greeted the opening of the summit with a declaration that it would soon be manufacturing a new generation of centrifuges to enrich uranium more quickly than ever. Another important interaction that took place was between Pakistan and India. Gilani and Manmohan Singh shook hands twice and on Tuesday, they also had talks for five minutes.
While a newspaper report tells of Manmohan Singh having accepted an invitation to visit Pakistan, what the Indian Prime Minister said, in his press conference, does not support the claim. Manmohan Singh once again reiterated the stand that issues in South Asia could only be resolved bilaterally, without foreign intercession. Further, resumption of talks between Pakistan and India was predicated on "concrete" and "effective" action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. He particularly called for action against Hafiz Saeed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, as well as Ilyas Kashmiri. He also maintained that there was no need for any further evidence about the role of the LeT. The two prime ministers are scheduled to be present in Bhutan later this month, but if the prevailing mindset in India does not undergo a change, there is little hope of a breakthrough in their relations.