DATE=5/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232456
TITLE=PAK INDIA (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SAYS ISLAMABAD IS
SHOWING RESTRAINT BY NOT TESTING A NUCLEAR DEVICE, BUT HE SAYS
"PRESSURE IS MOUNTING BY THE HOUR" TO RESPOND TO INDIA'S FIVE
NUCLEAR TESTS. THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO SAYS HE IS NOT AFRAID
OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC SANCTIONS LIKELY TO BE IMPOSED SHOULD
PAKISTAN TEST A NUCLEAR DEVICE. VOA ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT
MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS.
TEXT: PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF -- SPEAKING TO REPORTERS IN
ISLAMABAD -- SAYS PAKISTAN CONTINUES TO SHOW RESTRAINT IN NOT
TESTING A NUCLEAR DEVICE.
// SHARIF ACT //
I THINK WE WANT TO SHOW TO THE WORLD THAT PAKISTAN IS A
RESPONSIBLE COUNTRY. IT CAN EXERCISE RESTRAINT ON
ITSELF. IF INDIA IS DOING OUT OF SHEER MADNESS WE DO
NOT HAVE TO BLINDLY FOLLOW SUIT. BUT OF COURSE WHATEVER
WE DO WILL BE DICTATED BY OUR SECURITY CONCERNS -- WILL
BE DICTATED BY OUT NATIONAL INTERESTS.
// END ACT //
THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS "THE PRESSURE IS MOUNTING BY THE HOUR"
FOR PAKISTAN TO TEST A NUCLEAR DEVICE ALTHOUGH HE DID NOT SAY
WHEN A FINAL DECISION WILL BE MADE.
MR. SHARIF SAYS HE IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT STATEMENTS BY INDIAN
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS REGARDING THE USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
// SHARIF ACT //
YOU SEE WE ARE TAKING THESE THREATS VERY SERIOUSLY.
INDIA THREATENED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND SAID IT
WILL ALSO USE THE NUCLEAR OPTION. IT HAS NOW TESTED THE
NUCLEAR BOMB. ONLY THREE DAYS AGO THE INDIAN PRIME
MINISTER AGAIN SAID THAT, IF NEEDED, WE WILL ALSO USE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGAINST OUR ENEMIES AND AGAINST ANY ONE
OF OUR NEIGHBORS. I THINK THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. WE
HAVE GOT TO TAKE THESE WARNINGS NOW VERY SERIOUSLY.
// END ACT //
MR. SHARIF SAYS PAKISTAN IS DISAPPOINTED AT WHAT HE CALLED THE
"LUKEWARM" RESPONSE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO INDIA'S
NUCLEAR TESTS. HE SAYS HE SHARED THAT CONCERN IN A PHONE
CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
TONY BLAIR.
// SHARIF ACT //
WE ARE STILL WATCHING THE INTERNATIONAL REACTION WHICH
IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH BECAUSE IF IT WAS STRONG AND IF
INDIA WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SEVERE PUNISHMENT I WOULD
HAVE THE LEGITIMACY TO GO TO MY PEOPLE SAYING LOOK THIS
IS WHAT THE WORLD COMMUNITY HAS DONE AGAINST INDIA AND
THEREFORE THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR PAKISTAN TO TEST
ITS NUCLEAR DEVICE. BUT THAT IS NOT HAPPENING.
// END ACT //
EARLIER -- DURING A SPEECH AT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
FOR STATE-RUN RADIO PAKISTAN -- MR. SHARIF SAID PEOPLE ARE NOT
AFRAID OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS LIKELY TO BE IMPOSED IF THE COUNTRY
CONDUCTS A NUCLEAR TEST.
// SHARIF ACT IN URDU THEN UNDER ENGLISH TRANSLATION //
WHATEVER DECISION WE WILL TAKE, IT WILL BE IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF THE NATION. AS FAR AS THE SANCTIONS ARE
CONCERNED, WE ARE ALREADY USED TO THESE SANCTIONS. WE
ARE NOT AFRAID OF THESE. ALL THE JUSTICE LOVING
NATIONS SHOULD STAND WITH US IN THIS MATTER. OUR
FRIENDS ARE ALREADY STANDING WITH US AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY OUR PEOPLE ARE STRENGTHENING OUR HANDS.
// END ACT //
THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN SAY THEY WILL IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON
PAKISTAN IF IT CONDUCTS A NUCLEAR TEST. (SIGNED)
NEB/MB/KL
19-May-98 9:31 AM EDT (1331 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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