Tuesday, 21 August, 2007

by Richard Bowden
AHN

Australia's Labor opposition has accused the federal government of provoking Pakistan over its proposed sale of uranium to India. Labor has said Pakistan may consider downgrading its war on terrorism in reply, putting Australian forces in Afghanistan unnecessarily at risk.

Labor's defense spokesman Robert McClelland said his party's concern came from comments from the Pakistani government warning India against any resumption of nuclear tests.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said to reporters in Islamabad, "The resumption of nuclear tests by India would create [a] serious situation obliging Pakistan to review its position and to take action appropriate and consistent with our supreme national interest."

However Aslam also warned the Australian government that sales of uranium to India -- a non signatory of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Agreement -- would tip the strategic balance in the region.

McClelland said the move to sell uranium to India could have serious implications.

"I think the decision of the Australian Government to sell uranium to India risks causing such resentment in Pakistan that they will withdraw or at least scale back the extent to which they are providing assistance in the fight against the Taliban and al-Qaida militias that are based in Pakistan," he said.

"Granted, it hasn't been as enthusiastic as one would like, but we are nonetheless dependent upon the cooperation of Pakistan."

He also added Pakistan's withdrawal of assistance "...could potentially prejudice the safety of the Australian troops based in Afghanistan."