Cooperation to go far beyond security issues: Obama pledges long-term commitment

US President Barack Obama on Sunday said that Washington would not confine its relationship with Pakistan to merely security issues, adding that our long term strategic relationship would go far beyond security issues. Whereas demanding civil nuclear co-operation to cope with its growing energy demands, Pakistan has adopted a categorical stance not to compromise its supreme national interest.
"Pakistan will not go for anything that could mar its supreme national interest", said Shah Mehmood Qureshi at a briefing after a bilateral meeting with President Barack Obama at Blair House. Obama is meeting with leaders, who are arriving for the two-day nuclear security summit, which started on Monday.
Prime Minister Gilani invited US President to visit Pakistan, which he accepted. The timing of the visit would be worked out later on, Mr Qureshi said. The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) 2010 is President Obama's initiative to secure nuclear material across the world within four years and ultimately free the world from nuclear weapons. The summit would be attended by 47 world leaders, the largest gathering of international leaders in the US after 1945.
During the talks with Pakistani delegation led by PM Gilani at Blair House here ahead of the NSS, Obama who was joined by Secretary State Hailary Clinton. Obama said he was very fond of Pakistan. He did mention his visit to the country during his college days and said his administration is keen to take the strategic relationship with Islamabad forward.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said, "I thank President Obama for saying that Pakistan's nuclear programme is in safe hands." Briefing media, Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the 40 minutes meeting took place in a very positive atmosphere. President Obama acknowledged and appreciated steps taken by Pak Army to combat terrorism in Swat, Malakand and in Tribal region, he added. President Obama said though security issues are our primary concern, we will not limit our relations with Pakistan to the extent of security.
President Obama said, "I want to take relation with Pakistan to the heights that it has never seen before. I want to see a strong and prosperous Pakistan". Foreign Minister Qureshi said that President Obama himself dispelled the impression that US was fearful about nuclear assets of Pakistan.
"Nuclear Security Summit is not Pakistan specific, and there is no likelihood of any action against us," he added. Following are some salient points of Pakistan's National Statement at Nuclear Security Summit.
"Pakistan welcomes the initiative taken by President Barack Obama to convene Nuclear Security Summit (NSS). The initiative is timely and raises awareness about nuclear security, which is a common global concern. It gives primacy to an issue that requires attention at the highest level," the statement said.
Pakistan believes that this Summit will act as a catalyst for fostering a nuclear security culture. At this summit, we reaffirm our commitment to the objective of strengthening nuclear security and to stop terrorists from gaining access to nuclear or radiological materials for terror.
Currently the international regime dealing with nuclear security is quite extensive ranging from the measures taken by the IAEA and the United Nations to several initiatives that have been taken in the recent past. We don't need new or parallel mechanisms for co-operation on nuclear security or to address the threat of terrorism. But we do need better co-ordination amongst different initiatives. Moreover, faithful application of the widely agreed standards and provision of matching assistance, where necessary and acceptable, can equip international community with more effective tools to strengthen nuclear security and prevent nuclear terrorism.
The Summit has kept a sharp focus on nuclear security and has avoided going into the areas of non-proliferation and disarmament, which are being discussed at other relevant forums. It also recognises that nuclear security measures should not infringe on the nations' right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, including the production, transfer, use and exchange of nuclear material for peaceful purposes.
Pakistan's nuclear programme has been security conscious right from the beginning. Since its inception, we had imposed tight measures for nuclear security. After the nuclear tests of 1998, these measures were further institutionalised into an elaborate and effective nuclear security regime.
Pakistan has legitimate needs for the power generation to meet the growing energy demands of our expanding economy. Civil nuclear power generation under IAEA safeguard is an essential part of our national energy security plan to support sustained economic growth and industrial development.
Pakistan has more than 35 years of experience in running nuclear power plants. With trained professional manpower and a strong nuclear safety and security culture, Pakistan fully qualifies for participation in civil nuclear co-operation at the international level. We urge all relevant forums to give Pakistan access to nuclear technology for peaceful uses, in a non-discriminatory manner, to meet its growing demand for energy.
As a country with advanced fuel cycle capability, Pakistan is in a position to provide nuclear fuel cycle services under IAEA safeguards, and to participate in any non-discriminatory nuclear fuel cycle assurance mechanism.
Pakistan is strongly committed to nuclear security. It would continue to refine and modernise its technical and human resources and mechanisms on safety and security of nuclear weapons, nuclear materials, facilities, and assets.
Pakistan would cooperate with the global community in accordance with its national polices and requirements as well as international obligation.