Pakistan to Abide by Moratorium on Nuclear Tests

Pakistan Monday said it would abide by its unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests which is consistent with the spirit of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty(CTBT).

This position was stated by Foreign Office spokesman Riaz Muhammad Khan in response to several questions on Pakistan's adherence to CTBT.

Khan said Pakistan had supported the treaty in 1996. "We don't have any problem with the treaty in principle."

He said in 1998, Pakistan had declared that it was ready to adhere to the treaty provided all sanctions were removed against it as "the sanctions are unjust and unwarranted."

He said, "there is an international interest in Pakistan's signing of CTBT."

He said Pakistan's present position is that it would not be the first to resume nuclear tests and would abide by its unilateral moratorium which "is consistent with the spirit of the treaty."

People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/