By Xinhua
Islamabad : Pakistan has decided to join the global initiative to combat nuclear terrorism, which was jointly announced by the US and Russian presidents at the July 2006 G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Saturday.
The global initiative, aiming at developing international cooperation to combat nuclear terrorism, applies to civilian nuclear facilities and activities.
"While joining the Initiative, Pakistan has declared that the global initiative does not cover Pakistan's military nuclear facilities or activities," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
With this understanding, the sponsors of the initiative have welcomed Pakistan's participation, it said.
Pakistan has been invited to attend the next meeting of the global initiative, to be held in Kazakhstan from June 11-12, 2007.
"It may be pointed out that as a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan has put in place legislative, regulatory and administrative infrastructure to prevent and combat any possible acts of terrorism involving nuclear and radiological materials and facilities," the statement said.
Pakistan's participation in the global initiative is a manifestation of the fact that nuclear security and export control measures in Pakistan are at par with latest international standards and recognition of the important role being played by Pakistan as a partner in global efforts against nuclear proliferation and possible nuclear terrorism, it said.