ISLAMABAD  - A conference on 'Contours of Emerging International Nuclear Order: Challenges and Options' was organised by the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) here at a local hotel on Wednesday.
The conference examined the effects of discriminatory nuclear polices on the strategic stability of South Asia and deliberated on the emerging nuclear order, the dynamics of the strategic developments in the region and the role of nuclear weapons in nuclear stability, besides India's increasing military strength and its impact on strategic balance as well as Pakistan's changing threat perception and perspectives of P-5 nuclear states.
General (Retd) Ehsanul Haq in his keynote address said that with the end of cold war, the security environment at regional and global level became more complex which was contrary to the optimism of many. General Haq was of the view that surge in globalisation, arrival of information age and increased competition on access of energy resources are increasingly becoming new elements of emerging global security order. He argued that Pakistan deserves a right place in the emerging global nuclear order based on internationally recognised record of safety, security and non-proliferation.
Dr Bruno Tertrais talked about nuclear weapons states and new nuclear powers. Dr Bruno mentioned the challenges global nuclear order is facing such as North Korea, Iran, double standards in nuclear non-proliferation regime, increasing interests by several countries in enrichment and reprocessing technologies and complex configurations e.g. India-China-Pakistan, China, Russia and United States etc.
Dr Bruno concluded that in order to strengthen global nuclear order, measures such as additional protocols, transparency and focus on article 6 of NPT should be considered.
Andre N Shabalin gave a presentation on Russian perspective on strategic stability and disarmament. Andre was the part of Russian team that negotiated New Start treaty with Obama administration in April 2010. Andry talked about new start treaty, global strategic missile defense programme of the United States and its implications, Russia's retaliatory measures and factors effecting strategic deterrence.
Dr Shireen Mazari, Director General Strategic Studies Institute Islamabad, talked on the topic titled "Discrimination and Global Nuclear stability". She argued that NPT and the inherent discrimination within has not been the source of stability in global and regional security. Regarding the four export control cartels, Dr Mazari was of the view that these export control cartels have no legal binding. FMCT and Ballistic Missile Defense are also part of discriminatory approach and impediment to realizing article 6 of NPT she continued.   
Earlier, Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi, Executive Director CISS, in his opening remarks outlined the broader context of the conference. He deliberated on the conceptual framework of global nuclear order and traced its historical and contemporary trajectory to outline/highlight possible contours of the new order. He maintained that emerging global nuclear order will have opportunities for Pakistan.
The proceedings of each session were followed by an interactive session in which the participants raised a number of questions regarding the issues covered in the respective session and were answered comprehensively by concerned speakers.