'Uranium deal will spark off arms race'

MELBOURNE: Pakistani cricketer turned politician Imran Khan has said that the Howard Government's decision to sell uranium to India will spark a new arms race on the subcontinent.

Khan, who leads the Movement for Justice party, told a media channel yesterday that Australia's decision to export uranium would encourage generals in his country to spend more on weapons to counter India's access to nuclear fuel.

Australia has decided to sell uranium to India, but not Pakistan, because Foreign Minister Alexander Downer argues that India has a good record on weapons non-proliferation.

Khan said that Australia should have been even-handed in its decision on uranium exports, according to 'The Age' report. He said funds in Pakistan would now be diverted from human development to arms development, "and we will have a sort of arms race in the subcontinent which poor people in our countries cannot afford".

Asked whether Australia should have made the decision, he replied: "Absolutely not."

According to Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer "Selling uranium to India would make the world safer because its nuclear plants would be subject to international inspections for the first time."

He said there was no way the uranium could be used for military purposes.

Last night Downer told the ABC that United Nations inspectors would ensure the uranium remained in the civilian programme.