DATE=5/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232278
TITLE=PAK US NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A HIGH-RANKING DELEGATION OF U-S OFFICIALS IS HOLDING
TALKS WITH PAKISTANI LEADERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISSUADE PAKISTAN
FROM CARRYING OUT A NUCLEAR TEST. AS ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM
ISLAMABAD -- OFFICIALS OF BOTH COUNTRIES ARE TIGHT-LIPPED AS TO
WHAT INCENTIVES THE UNITED STATES MAY BE OFFERING PAKISTAN TO
FOREGO ITS WIDELY EXPECTED RESPONSE TO INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS.
TEXT: TOP U-S GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY OFFICIALS HELD A 90-MINUTE
MEETING WITH PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTER GOHAR AYUB FRIDAY.
THE U-S DELEGATION THEN LEFT FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH PAKISTAN'S ARMY
CHIEF JEHANGIR KARAMAT, AND PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF. EXPERTS
SAYS THIS MISSION MAY BE THE ONLY CHANCE TO PREVENT ANOTHER
NUCLEAR EXPLOSION IN THE SUBCONTINENT.
UNITED STATES DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT -- WHO IS
HEADING THE U-S DELEGATION -- SAYS THE DISCUSSION WAS A USEFUL
FORUM FOR TWO FRIENDS TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER'S POINT OF VIEW.
/// TALBOTT ACT ///
WE CAME TO CONSULT WITH A VERY GOOD FRIEND. IT'S PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT THAT GOOD FRIENDS LIKE THE UNITED STATES AND PAKISTAN
STAY IN THE CLOSEST POSSIBLE TOUCH, UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER'S VIEWS
AT DIFFICULT TIMES. THIS IS A DIFFICULT TIME, AND WE'VE HAD A
GOOD MEETING.
/// END ACT ///
THE DELEGATION IS HERE TO TRY TO PERSUADE THE PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT
NOT TO RESPOND TO INDIA'S FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS WITH ONE OF ITS OWN.
AFTER THE DAY'S FIRST MEETING HOWEVER, PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN OFFICE
SPOKESMAN TARIQ ALTAF SUGGESTED THE U-S TEAM MADE LITTLE PROGRESS
IN PERSUADING PAKISTAN TO FOREGO A NUCLEAR TEST.
/// ALTAF ACT ///
OUR RESPONSE WILL BE IN KEEPING WITH THE THREAT WE ARE FACING
AND IN KEEPING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR SECURITY AND NATIONAL
INTERESTS. I HAVE TOLD YOU ALREADY THAT IN DETAIL, AND THAT
REMAINS OUR POSITION.
/// END ACT ///
MR. ALTAF WOULD SAY ONLY THAT BOTH SIDES LISTENED TO EACH OTHER.
NEITHER COUNTRY'S OFFICIALS WOULD COMMENT ON ANY PROPOSALS THAT
THE U-S DELEGATION MAY HAVE BROUGHT WITH THEM.
/// REST OPT ///
THURSDAY, PAKISTAN'S CABINET EXPRESSED UNANIMOUS DETERMINATION TO
CONDUCT A NUCLEAR TEST -- SAYING THE COUNTRY'S SECURITY CONCERNS
WOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED UNDER PRESSURE FROM WESTERN
GOVERNMENTS.
PAKISTAN HAS BEEN SEVERELY CRITICAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY -- AND IN PARTICULAR OF THE UNITED STATES -- FOR
FAILING TO PREVENT INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS DESPITE REPEATED
WARNINGS FROM PAKISTAN.
REPORTS SAY PAKISTAN HAS ALREADY STARTED PREPARATIONS FOR ITS OWN
TEST IN A REMOTE DESERT REGION IN BALOCHISTAN PROVINCE. PAKISTAN
IS CONSIDERED CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A NUCLEAR WEAPON, BUT SAYS IT
HAS THUS FAR CHOSEN NOT TO DO SO.
THE UNITED STATES HAS WARNED PAKISTAN IT WILL FACE THE SAME
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AS THOSE IMPOSED ON INDIA IF IT GOES AHEAD
WITH A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION, BUT PAKISTANI OFFICIALS SAY THE ACTION
TAKEN AGAINST INDIA IS TOO TRIVIAL TO BE OF ANY EFFECT.
PUBLIC OPINION IN PAKISTAN IS STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF TESTING A
NUCLEAR DEVICE, WHICH MANY HERE SEE AS THE ONLY DETERRENT TO
INDIA'S REGIONAL AMBITIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/WDC/JO
15-May-98 9:31 AM EDT (1331 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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