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India seeks international debate on Nuke-leak issue

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Feb 7, IRNA -- India on Friday in a measured response 
to Pakistan`s nuclear leak issue, sought to place the issue in the 
international context, as part of shared global concerns over 
proliferation to be debated at appropriate fora like the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), local press reported 
here on Saturday. 
In a reaction to recent developments in the neighborhood, 
India`s External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on Friday told the 
media: "These are issues which will have to be debated in the IAEA 
and elsewhere so that we have a more responsible behavior from 
countries which have nuclear capability." 
The minister said: "Obviously, it appears to me that things 
will not stop here because it is not merely an internal matter of 
Pakistan but it is a matter concerning the entire international 
community." 
It may be tempting to conclude that Sinha`s response may 
have something to do with India`s recent peace initiative with 
Pakistan, a process set to start rolling officially on February 16. 
While the recent thaw may indeed be a factor, sources admit 
India has avoided any loud rhetoric in order to keep the matter out 
of the tiresome "India-Pakistan-South Asia" prism. 
Had it gone ballistic, India would have indirectly helped ease 
pressure not only on Pakistan but also on the United States to 
address the matter appropriately. 
Forever eager to term South Asia a nuclear hotbed, an extremely 
disconcerted US finds itself defending a country whose top nuclear 
scientists have been caught serving the interests of countries 
hostile to the US. Prudence has duly dictated New Delhi to let the 
issue play out in the international context. 
India and Pakistan are on the road to mending relations but the 
Khan episode has revealed that international stability is under no 
less threat now, that peace in the subcontinent does not reduce the 
risk that actors of Pakistan`s nuclear program pose to the 
international security situation. 
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