United Nations: Pakistan has supported India’s stand on the UN Arms Trade Treaty that would regulate the USD 70 billion conventional arms trade around the world, saying it favours the arms exporting countries and does not protects the interests of importers.
“The treaty may be seen by many as essentially a product of and by the exporters only. It falls short of striking an appropriate balance of interests and obligations among the exporters and importers as well as the affected states,” said Pakistani Ambassador to the UN Masood Khan.
In his remarks to the Arms Trade Treaty Conference at the UN headquarters in New York – which concluded Thursday – Khan said the call for balance was echoed by an overwhelming majority. “Some treaty provisions, however, legitimise in a global legal instrument what the existing national and plurilateral export control systems cover.
The interests of exporting countries have been accommodated in the form of special exemptions, exceptions and protections,” he has said.
The Treaty fell apart due to lack of consensus among the 193 member countries because of opposition from North Korea, Iran and Syria. India said the treaty in its present form would compromise with its national interest mainly it does it favours the arms exporting nations and is weak on arms supply to non-State actors.
Pakistan, however, remained silent on the second concerns raised by India. Proponents of the Treaty have now decided to put it to vote at the UN General Assembly as early as Tuesday. While the final decision by India is yet to be taken, New Delhi is most likely to end up abstaining, if not voting against the draft treaty.
The US on Thursday, however, tried to ally Indian fears by arguing that it “does not harm” India’s national interest. (PTI)