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US welcomes India, Pak moves towards signing CTBT

The Clinton administration has praised India and Pakistan for their willingness to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty within the year, insisting that ''more steps need to be taken'' before the US can lift economic sanctions imposed after their May nuclear tests.

Talking to newsmen in New York yesterday, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said both countries had taken some positive steps to end the nuclear arms race in the region, ''but there is a long way to go'' before sanctions can be lifted.

She, however, also said no decision had been made about US President Bill Clinton's visit to the region. The trip was put on hold after the nuclear tests. ''We have to look at how this all progresses. I don't want to overstate what has happened here. They are important steps but there are many steps that still need to be taken. We are not prepared to make a judgement on sanctions or he President's trip,'' she added.

Albright said the United States interpreted the remarks as the two countries ''moving towards adherence to the CTBT.''

She also noted that the two ''removed their obstacles to the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty negotiations in Geneva and they had promised to strengthen controls on the export of nuclear material and technology'' and agreed to pursue talks on Kashmir.

''We consider that very important,'' Albright said.

''Obviously much remains to be done actually signing and ratifying the CTBT, finding a formula for a moratorium on producing fissile material while negotiations are underway, structuring a restraint regime on nuclear weapons and their means of delivery to demonstrate their intent to avoid a nuclear arms race, and actually strengthening their export control regime,'' Albright said.

''So there has been some progress, but obviously more steps need to be taken,'' the secretary said.

Meanwhile, a senior administration official said a decision on Clinton's trip may be made as early as the first week of October.

The official also said the US Congress is watching developments ''very closely and they will be ready to respond at the appropriate time'' on sanctions.

The Congress has not given President Clinton the authority to waive the sanctions although a bill is pending.

''The administration strongly supports the Congress providing the President with waiver authority for the sanctions as contained in the Brownback-Robb amendment,'' the official said. ''They provide that authority, then we will make a determination whether or not and when that waiver authority can be used.''

The official said the United States interprets the statements made by the prime ministers as ''both are moving toward adherence'' to the CTBT.

''That is very clear. Both have initiated serious debates in Delhi and Islamabad with their parliaments, with their people about the wisdom of moving forward with adherence to the treaty,'' the official said.

''Compare this to a year ago where India was adamantly opposed to the CTBT because of its discriminatory aspects and Pakistan was saying they would not sign until India did, these things have changed.'' the official pointed out.

''Pakistan has dropped as a condition India's signing the treaty. Both countries -- in light of the nuclear tests they made -- are looking at the CTBT in the context of their national security requirements and whether or not these tests will allow them to move forward with adherence. This is a positive sign,'' the officials said.

''These are good statements, but obviously we want to see concrete actions taken by those countries ... Further movement on material, on a restraint regime, further movement on export controls,'' the official said.

''Both countries have very good records on the question of the export of sensitive nuclear and missile technology. We want to see them formalise those, make them more stringent,'' he said.

''It may be more time may be required to work through these important issues with both countries and if more time is required we would want to take it,'' the official said.

''These are fundamentally important issues for both countries. National security is involved and we want to make sure we get these right,'' the senior official said.

The official also noted that ''by all reports -- both public and private -- the two ministers established some rapport (during their meeting in New York) and that, we think, is what is necessary to begin moving the two countries to resolve all of their differences, including Kashmir.''

UNI

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