China-Pak deal should be within IAEA purview: EU

Amid India's concerns over the China-Pakistan nuclear deal, the European Union today said any such agreement should respect the guidelines spelt out by the world nuclear watchdog IAEA.

Amid India's concerns over the China-Pakistan nuclear deal, the European Union on Wednesday said any such agreement should respect the guidelines spelt out by the world nuclear watchdog IAEA.

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"The EU has no problems with peaceful use of nuclear energy. Whatever arrangements are made have to be within the purview of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Catherine Ashton, the EU's High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy told reporters here in reply to a query.

Asked about the EU stand on the Sino-Pak deal, which was expected to be discussed at the plenary meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), she said the 27-member bloc was not a member of the NSG.

"The EU wants to ensure that the proliferation of nuclear technologies does not take place," Ashton said.

India has raised with China the issue of its supply of two more nuclear reactors to Pakistan as part of its pre-2004 deal for civil nuclear cooperation with Islamabad.

India has also been "in touch" with a number of its partner countries from NSG through dialogues and discussions to seek more information on China-Pakistan deal.

China earlier built two reactors for Pakistan before joining the NSG in 2004.