DATE=3/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228872
TITLE=PAK - INDIA NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN SAYS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST TAKE
STRONGER NOTICE OF THE NEW INDIAN GOVERNMENT'S STATED AMBITION TO
DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS. AS ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD --
PAKISTAN HAS SUGGESTED THE USE OF SANCTIONS, IF NECESSARY, TO
PREVENT NEW DELHI FROM PURSUING SUCH A POLICY.
TEXT: PAKISTAN (SATURDAY) SAYS IT WELCOMES INDIAN PRIME MINISTER
ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE'S INTEREST IN CONTINUING DIALOGUE BETWEEN
THE TWO COUNTRIES, BUT IS CRITICIZING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
FOR NOT TAKING THE NEW INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO TASK FOR ITS
NUCLEAR AMBITIONS.
PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESMAN TARIQ ALTAF SAYS THE STATED
AGENDA OF THE HINDU NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT -- TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR
WEAPONS -- POSES A DIRECT THREAT OF A NUCLEAR WEAPONS RACE IN THE
REGION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN
MUCH STRONGER NOTICE OF THIS THREAT, GIVEN THE CONCERN OVER
PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
REFERRING TO A STATEMENT BY PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER GOHAR
AYUB, CALLING FOR SANCTIONS AGAINST INDIA, MR. ALTAF SAYS THERE
IS NO CONTRADICTION IN WELCOMING A GOVERNMENT, ON THE ONE HAND,
AND DEMANDING ACTION AGAINST IT, ON ANOTHER.
// ALTAF ACT //
IT IS ONLY NATURAL, THEREFORE, THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER
OF PAKISTAN, OR DIFFERENT PAKISTANI LEADERS, OR THE
SPOKESMAN, SHOULD TAKE NOTICE OF THAT SERIOUS
DEVELOPMENT, SHOULD EXPRESS OUR CONCERN AT IT, AND
SHOULD URGE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO DO WHATEVER
IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT SUCH A SITUATION ARISING IN THE
REGION -- WHERE A NUCLEAR WEAPONS THREAT IS
MATERIALIZING.
/// END ACT ///
INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARE BOTH CONSIDERED TO HAVE ACQUIRED THE
TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS, BUT SO FAR BOTH COUNTRIES
HAVE REFRAINED FROM OPENLY DECLARING THEIR NUCLEAR CAPABILITY.
IT IS FEARED THAT AN INDIAN MOVE TO DO SO WOULD LEAD TO A
FULL-FLEDGED NUCLEAR WEAPONS RACE IN THE VOLATILE REGION.
// REST OPT //
THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS SINCE GAINING
INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN 50 YEARS AGO. TALKS BETWEEN PAKISTAN
AND INDIA TO RESOLVE DISPUTES RESUMED LAST YEAR, AFTER BEING
SUSPENDED FOR THREE YEARS, BUT HAVE ONCE AGAIN BEEN STALLED OVER
THE ISSUE OF THE DISPUTED HIMALAYAN STATE OF KASHMIR.
PAKISTAN SAYS ANY DIALOGUE WITH INDIA MUST INCLUDE KASHMIR ON THE
AGENDA SEPARATELY. INDIA INSISTS KASHMIR'S STATUS IS NOT
NEGOTIABLE, AND SAYS PAKISTAN MUST STOP ASSISTING MUSLIM
MILITANTS IN THE STATE -- A CHARGED DENIED BY PAKISTAN.
RECENTLY ISLAMABAD ACCUSED INDIA OF BEING BEHIND A SERIES OF
TRAIN AND BUS BOMBINGS IN PAKISTAN, AND THE TWO COUNTRIES
EXPELLED EACH OTHER'S DIPLOMATS ON CHARGES OF ESPIONAGE.
THE ELECTION OF A HINDU NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT IN INDIA HAS BEEN
GREETED WITH CAUTION IN PAKISTAN, BUT SO FAR BOTH GOVERNMENTS
HAVE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE STALLED TALKS CAN BE RESUMED.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JO
28-Mar-98 9:01 AM EST (1401 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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