Pakistan has circulated a letter to the Board members of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressing concern that if the safeguards agreement sought by India is approved by the IAEA, it will lead to increased Indian access to nuclear fuel and may contribute to a renewed nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan.

However, India expects the safeguards agreement to be signed with IAEA in spite of Pakistan’s objection, since the overwhelming mood in the IAEA Board of Governors is to support the Indian safeguards agreement.

The Indian safeguards agreement will come up for discussion and approval by the 35-member Board of Governors of the IAEA on August 1. India and Pakistan are both members of the Board.

In this context, it may be noted that in November 2006 when Pakistan sought a safeguards agreement for its nuclear facilities at Chashma II, which was being built with Chinese assistance, India had joined the other IAEA Board members to approve it without any reservations.