DATE=5/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233103
TITLE=PAK NUKE SCIENTIST (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN'S TOP NUCLEAR SCIENTIST -- ABDUL QADEER KHAN --
SAYS THE COUNTRY NOW HAS THE CAPABILITY OF PRODUCING NUCLEAR
WEAPONS AND DELIVERING THEM ON MISSILES TO MOST MAJOR CITIES IN
INDIA. MR. KHAN MADE THE REMARKS DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH VOA
AND ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: THE HEAD OF PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM -- ABDUL QADEER
KHAN -- SAYS PAKISTAN HAS NOW PROVEN IT CAN BUILD NUCLEAR WEAPONS
AFTER CONDUCTING SIX NUCLEAR TESTS.
MR. KHAN SAYS NUCLEAR WARHEADS CAN BE DELIVERED TO MOST MAJOR
INDIAN CITIES ON PAKISTAN'S MEDIUM-RANGE GHAURI MISSILE.
// KHAN ACT //
GHAURI MISSILE IS A BIG MISSILE. IT CAN CARRY QUITE BIG
WEAPONS SYSTEMS. SO NO PROBLEM TO MOUNT A NUCLEAR
DEVICE ON GHAURI.
// END ACT //
MR. KHAN SAYS THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO CHANCE OF A NUCLEAR WAR IN
SOUTH ASIA SINCE BOTH PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE PROVEN NUCLEAR
PROGRAMS. HE SAYS THAT WILL SERVE AS A DETERRENT TO ANY FUTURE
ARMED CONFLICT.
THE SCIENTIST SAYS THERE IS NO REASON FOR EITHER COUNTRY TO BUILD
LARGE NUCLEAR ARSENALS SINCE ONLY A FEW WEAPONS COULD DESTROY THE
MAJOR CITIES IN BOTH COUNTRIES.
// KHAN ACT //
IF INDIA WANTS TO USE NUCLEAR WEAPONS AGAINST PAKISTAN I
THINK INDIA DOES NOT NEED MORE THAN THREE OR FOUR -- WE
HAVE GOT HARDLY THREE OR FOUR BIG CITIES. IF WE WANT TO
USE (NUCLEAR WEAPONS) AGAINST INDIA WE DO NOT NEED MORE
THAN FIVE OR SIX. IT IS AN ACADEMIC QUESTION. THEY CAN
HAVE THREE OR FOUR VERY EASILY AND WE CAN HAVE FIVE OR
SIX VERY EASILY.
// END ACT //
MR. KHAN SAYS AFTER INDIA CONDUCTED FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS EARLIER
THIS MONTH, PAKISTAN WAS LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO PROVE ITS OWN
NUCLEAR CAPABILITY.
// KHAN ACT //
YOU SEE SINCE THE NEW INDIAN GOVERNMENT CAME INTO POWER
THEY HAVE BEEN THREATENING US WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS, OF
MARCHING INTO KASHMIR, TAKING OVER PAKISTAN, UNDOING
PAKISTAN. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHIN TWO OR THREE DAYS
THEY EXPLODED FIVE NUCLEAR DEVICES HARDLY 50-KILOMETERS
FROM OUR BORDER. THAT WAS A VERY, VERY BIG PROVOCATION.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAD THE CAPABILITY OF DETONATING A
NUCLEAR DEVICE FOR THE LAST 14-YEARS, 15-YEARS, WE NEVER
INDULGED IN THIS SABER RATTLING. WE COULD HAVE DONE
THIS MUCH, MUCH EARLIER. BUT WE WERE FORCED NOW. THERE
WAS NO WAY OUT FOR US.
// END ACT //
MR. KHAN SAYS OF THE SIX NUCLEAR TESTS THE LARGEST EXPLOSION WAS
ABOUT 35-KILOTONS. PAKISTAN'S TOP NUCLEAR SCIENTIST SAYS MORE
DETAILS OF THE TESTS WILL BE RELEASED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MB/RAE
31-May-98 12:30 PM EDT (1630 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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