DATE=5/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232352
TITLE=PAK NUCLEAR (S)
BYLINE=ALI ZAIDI
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER GOHAR AYUB SAYS THE
POSSIBILITY OF HIS COUNTRY CARRYING OUT A NUCLEAR TEST IS NOT A
QUESTION OF IF, BUT WHEN. AS ALI ZAIDI REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD --
PAKISTAN SEES THE SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON ITS RIVAL INDIA FOR
NUCLEAR TESTING AS TOO WEAK TO DETER PAKISTAN FROM RESPONDING TO
THE THREAT TO ITS SECURITY.
TEXT: PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER GOHAR AYUB TELLS V-O-A THE
RECENT U-S DELEGATION LED BY DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE
TALBOTT WAS MISTAKEN TO THINK PAKISTAN HAD NOT TAKEN A FINAL
DECISION ON CONDUCTING A NUCLEAR TEST.
// GOHAR ACT //
WE DID NOT SAY THAT TO THEM. WE SAID WE RESERVE THE OPTION AND
DECISION IN THE BEST INTEREST OF PAKISTAN'S SECURITY AND THE
STRATEGIC AND MILITARY IMBALANCE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED.
// END ACT //
MR. AYUB SAYS IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF IF PAKISTAN WOULD CONDUCT A
TEST, BUT WHEN. HE SAYS THE DECISION TO TEST HAS ALREADY BEEN
TAKEN BY THE CABINET.
ASKED HOW FAR PREPARATIONS HAD BEEN MADE FOR A TEST, MR. AYUB
SAYS CONDUCTING THE EXPLOSION WOULD BE AS SIMPLE AS TURNING A KEY
IN A LOCK.
PAKISTAN SAYS THE LIMITED NATURE OF SANCTIONS AGAINST RIVAL INDIA
FOR ITS NUCLEAR TESTS MAKE IT NECESSARY FOR PAKISTAN TO
DEMONSTRATE ITS OWN DETERRENT CAPABILITY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ
17-May-98 7:46 AM EDT (1146 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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