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| India-Pakistan |
| Sri Lanka, Pakistan Sign Nuclear Agreement |
| 2015-04-07 |
| [AnNahar] Sri Lanka and Pakistain signed six agreements including one on atomic energy Monday, the two countries' leaders said, as the strategically important island looks to build its first nuclear plant. Details of the agreement were not immediately available but it comes after Sri Lanka signed a pact with India in February to build its atomic energy infrastructure, including training of personnel. Sri Lanka's new president Maithripala Sirisena swept to power in January, ending a decade of rule by Mahinda Rajapakse, and has moved to reduce China's influence in his country, which had irked India. His arrived in Pakistain Sunday for a three-day state visit has been watched by observers for clues over any further changes in Colombo's foreign policy. Pakistain and Sri Lanka have traditionally enjoyed strong ties, particularly over defence, with Islamabad providing military assistance during the war against Tamil Tiger guerrillas that ended in 2009. Speaking at a presser with Pakistain's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... , Sirisena said: "At critical moments in our post-independent histories we have stood in solidarity with each other," adding he was "profoundly grateful for the strong support in the fight against terrorism" by Pakistain. "We discussed regional and international agreements and signed six agreements in the fields of disaster management, sports, shipping, atomic energy... and in narcotics and academic cooperation," he added. Pakistain currently has three operational nuclear plants generating a total of around 740 MW of power and has begun work on two more, including a 2,200-megawatt station to be built with Chinese technical assistance on the Arabian Sea coast at Paradise Beach, 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... Earlier Sharif had spoken of his desire to improve trade and economic relations. Sirisena will also meet Pakistain's President Mamnoon Hussain during his visit and is due to leave Tuesday. |
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