'Manmohan's attendance at N-security summit noteworthy'

I / Washington April 10, 2010, 12:29 IST

India is expected to play an active role in strengthening the non-proliferation regime by contributing positively to initiatives like the April 12-13 nuclear security summit, where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attendance is noteworthy, an eminent US scholar has said.

"Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attendance at the summit is particularly noteworthy," said Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation, ahead of the meet convened by US President Barack Obama here.

"The US-India civil nuclear deal has enhanced transparency in Indian civilian nuclear programmes and raised expectations that India will play an active role in strengthening the overall non-proliferation regime by contributing positively to initiatives like next week's international gathering," she said.

Referring to the attendance of Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the summit, she said that because of the political turmoil and escalating terrorist attacks in Pakistan over the last couple of years, several questions have been raised about the safety and security of its nuclear weapons.

"While the probability of Taliban militants over-running the country and gaining control of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is far-fetched, the real danger lies in potential links between retired officials and nuclear scientists with access to nuclear information to Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists," Curtis said.

"This is why the US has invested over $100 million over the last eight years into programmes aimed at improving the safety and security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons programmes," she said.

The US policy should continue to focus on preventing the possible penetration of Pakistan's nuclear establishment by individuals sympathetic to al-Qaeda goals, Curtis said.

"The best chance for success in this endeavour lies within a framework of robust US-Pakistan partnership based on trust and mutual understanding," she said.