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DATE=6/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233286
TITLE=SENATE - SOUTH ASIA (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS CALLING ON INDIA AND 
PAKISTAN TO STEP BACK FROM THEIR RIVALRY IN NUCLEAR TESTING AND 
WEAPONS-BUILDING.  V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS, THE UNITED STATES 
REJECTS THE NOTION OF ALLOWING EITHER SIDE TO JOIN THE SO-CALLED 
CLUB OF DECLARED NUCLEAR STATES. 
TEXT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE KARL INDERFURTH SAYS THERE IS 
EVIDENCE INDIA AND PAKISTAN SET OFF FEWER NUCLEAR DEVICES THAN 
THE 11 THE TWO SIDES CLAIM.  BUT IN A SENATE HEARING (WEDNESDAY),
HE WARNED TENSIONS COULD ESCALATE QUICKLY, EVEN THOUGH BOTH 
NATIONS SAY THEY DO NOT WANT WAR. 
MR. INDERFURTH SAYS THEIR GOVERNMENTS NEVER USED A SPECIAL 
"HOTLINE" BETWEEN NEW DELHI AND ISLAMABAD - AND ARE STILL TAKING 
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS STEPS. 
                      // INDERFURTH ACT //
         INDIAN LEADERS HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR INTENTION TO CONDUCT
         A NATIONAL SECURITY REVIEW, TO INCLUDE PLANS FOR THE 
         DEVELOPMENT AND POSSIBLE DEPLOYMENT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS, 
         A THRESHOLD THAT IF CROSSED COULD COCK THE NUCLEAR 
         TRIGGER.
                         // END ACT // 
THE WHITE HOUSE IS TRYING TO CONTAIN THE CRISIS THROUGH DIPLOMACY
AFTER WARNINGS AND PUNISHING SANCTIONS FAILED. MR. INDERFURTH 
SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS NOT TRYING TO MAKE PARIAHS OF INDIA AND
PAKISTAN, OR WRECK THEIR ECONOMIES.  HOWEVER, HE SAYS WASHINGTON 
WILL FIGHT ANY EFFORT TO CHANGE THE WORLDWIDE NONPROLIFERATION 
TREATY TO ACCEPT THE COUNTRIES AS DECLARED NUCLEAR POWERS. 
                      // INDERFURTH ACT //
         THERE IS NO DISPOSITION TO REWARD ANY NATION FOR, IF YOU
         WILL, BLASTING ITS WAY INTO THAT NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATE 
         CATEGORY.  THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD RUN 
         COUNTER TO THE VIEWS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND 
         INDEED MAY BE SEEN AS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS.
                          // END ACT //
BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS WORRY ABOUT ENCOURAGING 
IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM.  THE SENATE WILL TAKE UP A RESOLUTION 
CONDEMNING THE INDIAN AND PAKISTANI TESTING NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/LTD/KL
03-Jun-98 1:09 PM EDT (1709 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.