New Delhi : India was “well prepared” to guard its national interests, and has raised with China the issue of Beijing’s nuclear deal with Islamabad, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Wednesday.
“India is well prepared (to deal with threats). We are fully alert. We will not allow any harm to (happen to) India,” she said in the Lok Sabha.
The minister said the government was committed to taking all necessary steps to safeguard India’s national security interests.
“The government remains concerned about the impact of the deal on global non-proliferation norms. The government believes that countries should abide by the commitments that they have undertaken in the field of nuclear non-proliferation,” she said.
Sushma Swaraj said the government was aware of the agreement to supply two additional nuclear power reactors, Chashma-3 and Chashma-4, by China to Pakistan.
These reactors are under construction, in addition to Chashma-1 and 2, which are already in operation.
“The government has raised this issue in bilateral discussions with China. China maintains that its nuclear supplies to Pakistan are in accordance with its international obligations and are only for peaceful purposes,” she said.
China, being a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), has the responsibility to ensure that necessary safeguards are in place before exporting nuclear technology, she said.
However, Sushma Swaraj added that the situation has not reached the level where it needs to be raised in the UN.