DATE=5/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232689
TITLE=PAK INDIA (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF HAS INDICATED HE HAS
NOT YET MADE A DECISION ABOUT TESTING A NUCLEAR DEVICE IN
RESPONSE TO INDIA'S FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS. MR. SHARIF SAYS WHATEVER
DECISION IS MADE WILL BE IN PAKISTAN'S SUPREME NATIONAL INTEREST.
V-O-A ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS.
TEXT: IN A STATEMENT READ TO REPORTERS IN ISLAMABAD PRIME
MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SAYS PAKISTAN IS NOT RESPONDING IN HASTE
TO INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS.
// SHARIF ACT //
WE HAVE NOT BEHAVED IN A TIT FOR TAT MANNER. WE HAVE
NOT LET ANY MADNESS ENGULF US. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
WHATEVER DECISION WE EVENTUALLY TAKE WILL BE IN OUR
SUPREME NATIONAL INTEREST.
// END ACT //
THE PRIME MINISTER DID NOT SAY WHEN HE WILL MAKE A DECISION
ABOUT TESTING A NUCLEAR DEVICE. MR. SHARIF SAYS PAKISTAN IS
"LIVING UNDER THE DARK SHADOW" OF INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS.
HE SAYS INDIA IS THREATENING TO IMPOSE A MILITARY SOLUTION ON THE
DISPUTE OVER THE KASHMIR REGION -- A DISPUTE THAT HAS LED TO TWO
WARS BETWEEN THE SOUTH ASIAN NATIONS.
IN A CLEAR WARNING TO INDIA PRIME MINISTER SHARIF SAYS ANY
PROVOCATION WILL BE MET WITH "A RESOLUTE RESPONSE."
// SHARIF ACT //
WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE INDIAN THREATS WHICH MAY
MATERIALIZE AT ANY MOMENT. THE INDIAN TRACK RECORD OF
AGGRESSION AND IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR IS A STARK REALITY
FOR PAKISTAN. OUR COMPULSIONS ARE NOT HIDDEN. THE
BALANCE OF POWER IN THE REGION HAS BEEN VIOLENTLY
TILTED. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES OUR UNDIVIDED FOCUS
MUST BE ON THE PRESERVATION OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY
INTERESTS.
// END ACT //
PRIME MINISTER SHARIF SAYS PAKISTAN IS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS LIKELY TO BE IMPOSED IF ISLAMABAD CONDUCTS A
NUCLEAR TEST.
// SHARIF ACT //
THE TALK OF SANCTIONS IS NOT ONLY FAMILIAR TO US BUT
IT ALSO DOES NOT RATTLE US. WE HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE
WITH THESE PUNITIVE MEASURES. OUR LEGITIMATE NEED FOR
SECURITY IS STILL BEING IGNORED. THIS FILLS US WITH
APPREHENSIONS EVEN NOW. WE HAVE MADE CLEAR TO ALL OUR
FRIENDS AND WELL WISHERS THAT WE ARE NOT SEEKING ANY
BARGAINS. CAN THE PAKISTANI NATION EVER BARTER ITS
INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY AND SOVEREIGNTY?
// END ACT //
PRIME MINISTER SHARIF THANKED CHINA, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER
COUNTRIES FOR UNDERSTANDING THE DILEMMA HIS COUNTRY IS FACING.
PRESIDENT CLINTON IS URGING PAKISTAN TO SHOW RESTRAINT, BUT
PUBLIC DOMESTIC PRESSURE IS MOUNTING ON MR. SHARIF'S GOVERNMENT
TO CONDUCT A NUCLEAR TEST. (SIGNED)
NEB/MB/JO
23-May-98 10:06 AM EDT (1406 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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