Pakistan won't sign 'discriminatory' NNPT, says Foreign Secretary

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry has declared that the country will not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT) because it considers it "discriminatory," and asserted that the nation had the right to defend itself.

Chaudhry, who is leading the Pakistani delegation at a meeting with U.S. officials on security, strategic stability and non-proliferation issues in Washington, told media here that while Islamabad was not in an arms race with anyone nor was it seeking parity with New Delhi, but, it did want a system of checks and balances.

A total of 190 states have already signed the treaty, which took effect in 1970. However, both India and Pakistan have chosen to stay away from it, reports the Dawn.

Islamabad's steadfast refusal to sign the treaty goes against Washington' desire to promote the NNPT's compliance. The latter has avoided criticising the former's position on this and other issues publically.