The home of the Islamic bomb is now chair of the “U.N. nuclear watchdog’s governing body.” “Nuclear-armed Pakistan becomes chair of IAEA board,” from Reuters, September 27 (thanks to Sr. Soph):
Vienna: Pakistan became the new chair of the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s governing body on Monday, despite being outside a global anti-nuclear arms pact and home to a nuclear smuggler who supplied Iran and North Korea.
Western diplomats have suggested they do not see the choice as ideal because — like India, North Korea and Israel — Pakistan has shunned the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that is at the heart of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s work.
But Western powers did not oppose the nominee of a group of Middle East and South Asia member states at a meeting of the IAEA board on Monday, which approved the choice by acclamation, one diplomat who attended the closed-door session said.
Pakistan is a longstanding member of the Vienna-based IAEA and the choice was within its rules….