Australia not to sell uranium to Pakistan

Australian federal Defense Minister Stephen Smith on Thursday told national broadcasting network ABC Television that Australia will not sell uranium to Pakistan. Smith, who met with Indian government officials in New Delhi, said he had assured Indian officials that the new export policy did not extend to Pakistan. "Pakistan does not have the same record so far as proliferation is concerned," he said on Thursday. "But secondly Pakistan has not voluntarily placed itself under the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Nuclear Suppliers Group." A deal securing uranium exports will be negotiated with India in early 2012, ending a 20-year ban. Smith said India will have to agree to a range of safeguards before shipments begin. Earlier on Monday, Pakistan's High Commissioner to Australia was seeking for an equal treatment with India on uranium sales from Australia after Australian Labor government voted to overturn ban on uranium sales to India.