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New York, 26 June, 2016
At the UN, Pakistan’s Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi expressed concern over the undermining of long-held non-proliferation norms and rules in the pursuit of what she called “narrow strategic, political and commercial interests.”
Speaking in the formal open consultations on the 2016 Comprehensive Review of UN Security Council Resolution 1540, which aims to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors, she said that while the resolution had made a useful contribution to the advancement of non-proliferation goals, it was unfortunate that other aspects of the non proliferation landscape do not present an optimistic picture. “Instead the trends are mostly negative”, she said.
She said that as disarmament and non-proliferation are organically linked, lack of progress in fulfilling legal nuclear disarmament obligations had negatively impacted the efficacy of non-proliferation.
Ambassador Lodhi voiced Pakistan’s full support for the globally agreed objectives of promoting nuclear non-nuclear proliferation and disarmament. We also share the concerns about proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and their means of delivery by non-state actors, she added.
The Pakistani envoy told the UN that Pakistan has made remarkable progress in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems by non-State actors.
Pakistan, she said, has submitted four reports, outlining legislative, regulatory, administrative and organizational steps that have been undertaken including in pursuit of UNSCR 1540 implementation.
“We will continue to cooperate with all international efforts that seek to promote fair and equitable solutions to disarmament and non-proliferation challenges”, she added.
Calling an increase of 7% in global implementation of the resolution as ‘encouraging’, Pakistan’s Ambassador noted that it was also apparent that many States continue to lack the necessary expertise and resources for full implementation of the resolution.
She expressed concern over wide gap between promises and provision of assistance required, especially by developing states.
Spelling out the features of Pakistan’s nuclear regime, Dr. Lodhi said this rested on four pillars :
1. A well-defined, robust command and control system which exercises control over all aspects of nuclear policy.
2. A rigorous regulatory regime covering all matters related to nuclear safety and security, including physical protection of materials and facilities, material control and accounting, transport security, prevention of illicit trafficking and border controls.
3. A comprehensive export control regime, with export control laws at par with international standards.
4. International cooperation, consistent with Pakistan’s national policies and interests as well as international obligations.
Ambassador Lodhi concluded by expressing the hope that these consultations and the views expressed especially by Member States that are not part of the Security Council, were duly taken into account in the review process as well as its outcome.