Gilani on mission to seek nuclear status in Washington

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Dawn Report
Monday, 12 Apr, 2010

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who arrived in Washington on Sunday afternoon to attend a two-day nuclear summit, launched Pakistan’s campaign for international acceptance as a responsible nuclear state soon after his arrival.

Pakistan’s opponents are equally determined to deny the much-coveted status to Islamabad, with India taking a lead in this effort. And the United States finds itself engaged in a delicate balancing act between the two South Asian states.

The Obama administration, which gathered 47 world leaders from across the globe for the summit, has two major concerns: the spread of nuclear weapons and the possibility that such weapons may reach non-state actors.

Prime Minister Gilani got into action soon after his arrival, heading straight to his first meeting with US President Barack Obama. “The prime minister is arguing for Pakistan’s acceptance as a responsible nuclear state at every opportunity he gets, from his meeting with Mr Obama to his speech at the summit,” a senior Pakistani diplomat told Dawn. The summit begins on Monday.