DATE=9/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238832
TITLE=INDIA-PAKISTAN NUCLEAR (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A NON-GOVERNMENTAL TASK FORCE STUDY ON AMERICAN POLICY
TOWARD INDIA AND PAKISTAN SINCE THEIR NUCLEAR TESTS EARLIER THIS
YEAR SAYS BROAD ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ARE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE. THE
REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE UNITED STATES TRY TO GET INDIA AND
PAKISTAN TO CAP THEIR NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES AND THAT THE PRESIDENT
BE ALLOWED TO REDUCE SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON BOTH COUNTRIES.
V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS MORE ON THE TASK FORCE STUDY WHICH WAS
SPONSORED BY THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION AND THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN
RELATIONS.
TEXT: ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE TASK FORCE IS THAT
PRESIDENT CLINTON MAKE A PREVIOUSLY PLANNED VISIT TO BOTH
COUNTRIES LATER THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT.
RICHARD HAAS OF THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION SAID THE TRIP WOULD NOT
HAVE THE EFFECT OF REWARDING INDIA AND PAKISTAN FOR THEIR NUCLEAR
TESTS BECAUSE, IN HIS WORDS, DIPLOMACY IS NOT A REWARD.
MORTON HALPERIN, OF THE COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, EXPRESSED
THE HOPE THAT BOTH COUNTRIES WOULD CAP THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAMS IN
ADVANCE OF ANY PRESIDENTIAL TRIP, SO THAT OTHER PRESSING ISSUES
CAN BE DISCUSSED -- NOT JUST NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION.
/// HALPERIN ACT ///
OUR HOPE VERY CLEARLY IS THAT INDIA AND PAKISTAN WILL BOTH TAKE
STEPS TO CAP THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAMS URGED BY THE TASK FORCE IN
ADVANCE OF A PRESIDENTIAL TRIP SO THE PRESIDENTIAL TRIP CAN MOVE
BACK TO THE AGENDA THAT WAS ANTICIPATED BEFORE THE TESTS TOOK
PLACE.
/// END ACT ///
IN ADDITION TO AGREEING TO CAP THEIR NUCLEAR PROGRAMS, THE TASK
FORCE WANTS INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO AGREE TO MISSILE TRANSFER
LIMITATIONS, AGREE NOT TO DEPLOY MISSILES OR AIRPLANES WITH
NUCLEAR WEAPONS, IMPLEMENT CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES TO REDUCE
SOUTH ASIAN TENSIONS, AND BEGIN SUSTAINED BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS
ON THE MANY ISSUES THAT DIVIDE THEM.
EVER SINCE THE INDIA AND PAKISTAN NUCLEAR TESTS, THE UNITED
STATES HAS BEEN LEADING AN INTERNATIONAL ATTEMPT TO PERSUADE THEM
TO SIGN THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY, NOT TO DEPLOY THEIR
WEAPONS, AND NOT TO TRANSFER NUCLEAR OR MISSILE TECHNOLOGY.
MR. HALPERIN SAID THE MOST URGENT OF THE TASK FORCE
RECOMMENDATIONS IS FOR CONGRESS TO GRANT THE PRESIDENT THE
AUTHORITY TO BE FLEXIBLE WITH SANCTIONS. FOLLOWING THE NUCLEAR
TESTS LAST MAY, MANDATORY SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED. THE STUDY
ARGUES THAT THOSE SANCTIONS HAVE ADVERSELY AFFECTED INDIA AND --
ESPECIALLY-- PAKISTAN, AND ACTUALLY HARM U-S INTERESTS IN
STABILIZING THE COUNTRIES AND PROMOTING DEMOCRACY.
// REST OPT //
THE REPORT SAYS IT WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STABILIZE SOUTH
ASIA WITHOUT CHINA'S PARTICIPATION. IT SAYS THE UNITED STATES
SHOULD URGE CHINA TO ADHERE TO THE AGREEMENT NOT TO SPREAD
MISSILE TECHNOLOGY, END ALL UNSUPERVISED NUCLEAR COOPERATION WITH
PAKISTAN AND ANNOUNCE A WILLINGNESS TO JOIN IN EFFORTS TO GET A
MORATORIUM ON PRODUCTION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS MATERIAL--WHAT IS
CALLED FISSILE MATERIAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/WDC/JO
17-Sep-98 4:31 PM EDT (2031 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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