Pakistan has supported India’s stand on the UN Arms Trade Treaty that would regulate the $70-billion conventional arms trade around the world, saying that it favours the arms exporting countries and does not protects the interests of importers.

“The treaty may be seen by many as essentially a product of and by exporters only. It falls short of striking an appropriate balance of interests and obligations among exporters and importers as well as the affected states,” said Pakistani Ambassador to the UN Masood Khan.

In his remarks to the Arms Trade Treaty Conference at the UN headquarters in New York — which concluded on Thursday — Khan said the call for balance was echoed by an overwhelming majority.

“Some treaty provisions, however, legitimise in a global legal instrument what the existing national and plurilateral export control systems cover. The interests of exporting countries have been accommodated in the form of special exemptions, exceptions and protections,” he has said.

Lack of consensus

The treaty fell apart due to lack of consensus among 193 member countries because of opposition from North Korea, Iran and Syria.

India said the treaty in its present form would compromise with its national interest. Pakistan, however, remained silent on the second concerns raised by India.

Proponents of the treaty have now decided to put it to vote at the UN General Assembly as early as Tuesday.

While the final decision by India is yet to be taken, New Delhi is most likely to end up abstaining, if not voting against the draft treaty.

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