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DATE=5/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232495
TITLE=PAK CHINA (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  A SENIOR PAKISTANI ENVOY SAYS CHINA AND ISLAMABAD ARE IN 
COMPLETE AGREEMENT IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS 
AND IN THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT REGIONAL STABILITY.  AS ISLAMABAD 
CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS -- THE ENVOY MADE HIS REMARKS
AS HE RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO BEIJING.
TEXT:  PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN SECRETARY SHAMSHAD AHMED SAYS CHINA AND
PAKISTAN COMPLETELY AGREE INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS POSE A GRAVE 
DANGER TO GLOBAL AND REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY.
                         // AHMED ACT //
         THERE WAS A COMPLETE IDENTITY OF VIEWS BETWEEN PAKISTAN 
         AND CHINA ON THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION WHICH HAS 
         RESULTED FROM INDIA'S RECKLESS ACTIONS AND FICTITIOUS 
         THREAT FROM CHINA INVENTED BY INDIA AS A PRETEXT TO 
         PROMOTE ITS OWN HEGEMONIC DESIGNS AND AGGRESSIVE AGENDA 
         IN SOUTH ASIA.
                          // END ACT //
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE ISLAMABAD AIRPORT AFTER RETURNING 
FROM BEIJING -- MR. AHMED INDICATED CHINA HAS NOT ASKED PAKISTAN 
TO REFRAIN FROM CONDUCTING ITS OWN NUCLEAR TEST.
CHINA AND PAKISTAN ENJOY A CLOSE MILITARY AND ECONOMIC 
RELATIONSHIP PROMPTING REPORTS ISLAMABAD MAY BE SEEKING DEFENSE 
GUARANTEES FROM BEIJING.  MR. AHMED SAYS PAKISTAN AND CHINA DID 
NOT DISCUSS ANY SECURITY GUARANTEES.
                         // AHMED ACT //
         IN TODAY'S WORLD THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES, NO (SECURITY) 
         UMBRELLAS WHICH HOLD ANY RELEVANCE.
                          // END ACT //
MR. AHMED SAYS PAKISTAN IS IN NO HURRY TO CONDUCT A NUCLEAR TEST 
BEFORE THOROUGHLY REVIEWING THE IMPACT OF SUCH A DECISION.
                         // AHMED ACT //
         WE ARE IN NO HASTE.  WE ARE CARRYING OUT A THOROUGH 
         REVIEW OF OUR SITUATION KEEPING IN VIEW THE SERIOUSNESS 
         OF THE THREAT THAT IS POSED TO OUR SECURITY AND -- I 
         MUST EMPHASIZE -- THE RESPONSE AND REACTION OF THE WORLD
         COMMUNITY TO THIS SITUATION.
                          // END ACT //
IN ADDITION TO MR. AHMED'S VISIT TO CHINA -- PAKISTAN IS SENDING 
OTHER DELEGATIONS TO EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES TO EXPLAIN 
ISLAMABAD'S POSITION ON THE NUCLEAR ISSUE.
PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF IS UNDER INCREASING DOMESTIC
PRESSURE TO TEST A NUCLEAR DEVICE AFTER INDIA CONDUCTED FIVE 
TESTS LAST WEEK.  MANY COUNTRIES HAVE CONDEMNED INDIA'S DECISION 
AND URGED PAKISTAN NOT TO CONDUCT SUCH A TEST.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/MB/RAE
20-May-98 8:13 AM EDT (1213 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.