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PAKISTAN MISSION TO THE

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK

Press Statement of the Government of Pakistan on the G-8 Communique issued on 12 June 1998 on the nuclear tests conducted by India and then by Pakistan

We have carefully evaluated the G-8 Ministerial Communique issued in London on 12 June 1998. Pakistan welcomes all international efforts, whether by P-5 or G-8 to arrest the deteriorating security situation in South Asia.

The G-8 Ministerial communique contains some positive elements. However, the G-8 decision to work for a postponement in consideration of loans, in the World Bank and other financial institutions, is retrogressive and certainly counter productive.  The policy to punish in order to push the non-proliferation agenda will not succeed. It is unrealistic and based on a fictional notion of the realities in South Asia.

The G-8 should have, instead, laid greater emphasis on strengthening of peace and stability in South Asia with a pledge of continuous and active engagement in a wide ranging political process for resolution of the core dispute of Jammu and Kashmir which is the sole root-cause of tension and conflict in South Asia as well as promotion of nuclear and conventional restraint and stabilization measures between Pakistan and India.

The G-8 should have recognized that for fifty years the bilateral dialogue between Pakistan and India has produced no results. To prescribe more of the same amounts to an abnegation of responsibilities under UN Charter and international law.  Effective international engagement is a sine qua non for initiating and sustaining a meaningful process of peace and rapprochement in South Asia.

While making demands for adoption of non-proliferation measures, the G-8 have not taken note of the positive steps Pakistan has taken in this regard including the declaration of a unilateral moratorium, the offer of a Regional Test Ban Treaty with India as well as reaffirmation that Pakistan will not export nuclear technology to any country or entity. We have also pledged to continue to exercise restraint and responsibility without allowing the disturbance of the strategic balance in South Asia.

Non-proliferation concerns, which have priority for P-5 and G-8, will be alleviated only by demonstration of greater will to address issues of security, arms control and nuclear disarmament in a realistic manner. The P-5 and the G-8 should draw up proposals for their active and sustained involvement in a credible process for a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The resolution of this dispute is indispensable for peace and stability in South Asia.

Islamabad
June 13, 1998