ISLAMABAD, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- The recently established AUKUS security partnership between the United States, Britain and Australia, particularly the deal of exporting nuclear submarine technology to Australia, reflected their Cold War mentality and zero-sum mindset, a Pakistani senator has said.
The trilateral alliance is set up at the wrong time and for wrong reasons, because it is only sowing seeds of a new Cold War and new conflicts in the Asia Pacific region, where peace, security and cooperation are exactly needed, Mushahid Hussain Syed, chairman of Pakistani Senate's Defense Committee, told Xinhua on Wednesday.
The nuclear submarine deal constitutes a violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Syed said.
"The particular alliance is not for peaceful purposes; You are going to have nuclear-armed submarines against so-called adversary acts or an enemy, so the intent is not peaceful," he explained.
Asian countries should resist and reject the mindset behind the move as it undermines the regional stability, the senator said, noting that many countries have expressed their reservations and concerns over the issue.
"AUKUS comes as a White Man's Club as no Asian country is a part of the alliance. They have tried to bring back a Cold War to the region, which needs peace," he said.
The pact, which is not a workable proposition for Australia in the long run, will finally harm the nation's interests, he warned.
To strengthen regional peace and development, the United States and its allies should promote mutual benefits and cooperation rather than adhering to the zero-sum mentality and small-clique politics for their own hegemonic strategic interests, he added. Enditem
