DATE=05/01/98
TYPE=U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
NUMBER=6-10742
TITLE=PAKISTANI-INDIAN NUCLEAR TEST WORRIES
BYLINE=ANDREW N. GUTHRIE
TELEPHONE=619-3335
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
INTRO: PAKISTAN DETONATED ANOTHER NUCLEAR BOMB SATURDAY CAUSING
ADDITIONAL CONCERN ABOUT THE ESCALATING ARMS RACE IN THE
SUB-CONTINENT. U-S NEWSPAPERS ARE CONTINUING TO EXPRESS CONCERN
ABOUT THE TESTING BY BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN OF NUCLEAR BOMBS,
AND THE POSSIBILITY THESE TWO LONG-TIME RIVALS ARE NOW MOVING TO
TIP THEIR MISSILES WITH NUCLEAR WARHEADS.
WE GET A SAMPLING OF COMMENT ON THIS LATEST EXPANSION OF THE
WORLD'S SO-CALLED "NUCLEAR CLUB" NOW FROM _____________________
WHO JOINS US WITH TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.
TEXT: THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT SAID THE LATEST TEST, WHICH
BRINGS TO SIX THE NUMBER OF NUCLEAR DEVICES IT HAS EXPLODED
WITHIN THE PAST FEW DAYS, WAS AN 18-KILOTON EXPLOSION - - ABOUT
THREE KILOTONS GREATER THAN THE BOMB DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA AT THE
END OF WORLD WAR TWO.
HOWEVER U-S INTELLIGENCE SOURCES IN WASHINGTON SAID THE ACTUAL
SIZE WAS PROBABLY CLOSER TO TWO KILOTONS. THERE WAS MORE SHOCK
AND CONDEMNATION FROM CAPITOLS AROUND THE WORLD, AND AT THE
UNITED NATIONS, AN EMERGENCY SESSION OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL
URGED BOTH STATES TO END THEIR TESTING AND SIGN NUCLEAR ARMS
CONTROL TREATIES -- UNCONDITIONALLY AND IMMEDIATELY.
SEVERAL PAPERS COMMENTED ON THE SITUATION, AMONG THEM, "THE
HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN," WHICH CALLS THE TESTING SERIES A
"SETBACK FOR NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION."
VOICE: /// OPT /// THE CAUSE OF NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION HAS
TAKEN A DEVASTATING BLOW WITH THE TEST BLASTS CONDUCTED
BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN. UNLIKE THE TESTS IN RECENT YEAR
BY THE UNITED STATES, CHINA AND FRANCE, THESE [RECENT
TESTS] WERE CONDUCTED BY COUNTRIES THAT HAVE ALREADY
FOUGHT THREE WARS AGAINST EACH OTHER AND COULD WELL
CLASH AGAIN. BUT THE NEXT TIME IT COULD BE WITH NUCLEAR
WEAPONS. /// END OPT /// ..... NOW THAT INDIA AND
PAKISTAN HAVE CONDUCTED THEIR TESTS, THEY MAY BE WILLING
TO SIGN THE NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY, BUT THAT WOULD ONLY
MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE PACT. [PRESIDENT] CLINTON SIGNED
THE TREATY IN 1996, BUT RATIFICATION HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY
JESSE HELMS, CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE. THE LATEST EXPLOSIONS FURTHER WEAKEN THE
PROSPECTS FOR RATIFICATION. DESPITE THE REBUFF FROM
PAKISTAN, WASHINGTON SHOULD OFFER ITS ASSISTANCE TO NEW
DELHI AND ISLAMABAD IN ESTABLISHING A SYSTEM OF CONTROLS
OVER THEIR NUCLEAR ARSENALS IN ORDER TO STABILIZE THIS
DANGEROUS SITUATION.
TEXT: IN SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH'S "DESERET NEWS" (DES - ER - RET)
IS ASKING BOTH NATIONS TO "COOL OFF" NOW THAT THEY HAVE SHOWN THE
WORLD THAT BOTH POSSESS NUCLEAR ARMS.
VOICE: NOT SURPRISINGLY, PAKISTAN ANSWERED INDIA'S NUCLEAR
TESTS WITH FIVE OF ITS OWN THURSDAY. AND, NOT
SURPRISINGLY, THE UNITED STATES DECRIED THE ACTION AND
PREPARED TO RETALIATE WITH SANCTIONS. JUST AS PRESIDENT
CLINTON WAS RIGHT WHEN HE IMPOSED TOUGH SANCTIONS --
MANDATORY UNDER U-S LAW -- ON INDIA FOLLOWING THAT
COUNTRY'S FIVE UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR BLASTS EARLIER THIS
MONTH, HE'S ALSO RIGHT TO DO THE SAME WITH PAKISTAN.
.... PAKISTAN, LIKE INDIA, MUST NOW SUFFER THE
CONSEQUENCES OF ITS ACTIONS. /// OPT /// AS CORRECTLY
NOTED BY [MR.] CLINTON, BY FAILING TO EXERCISE
RESTRAINT, PAKISTAN LOST AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE ITS
POLITICAL STANDING IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD. BOTH
PAKISTAN AND INDIA -- /// END OPT /// NOW THAT THEY'VE
MATCHED EACH OTHER IN THE NUCLEAR TESTING ARENA -- ///
OPT /// [BOTH NATIONS] /// END OPT /// NEED TO SHIFT
THEIR FOCUS AWAY FROM THE ARMS RACE TOWARD DIPLOMACY AND
STATESMANSHIP. .... THEY NEED TO REALIZE THAT IT'S
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO BE INVOLVED IN A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE.
THAT CLEARLY IS NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR
PEOPLE.
TEXT: "THE [MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA] STAR TRIBUNE" SAYS IT IS NO
USE RECRIMINATING ABOUT THE FAILED POLICY OF CONTAINING NUCLEAR
PROLIFERATION. "THE STAR-TRIBUNE" SAYS THE JOB NOW FOR THE
WORLD'S DIPLOMATS IS TO DEAL WITH THE "NEW NUCLEAR REALITY."
VOICE: /// OPT /// .......[IT IS NOT] HELPFUL TO GET WRAPPED UP
JUST NOW IN THE FAILURE THIS REPRESENTS FOR U-S
NONPROLIFERATION POLICIES. THE IMMEDIATE FOCUS FOR
PRESIDENT CLINTON AND THE U-S CONGRESS SHOULD BE ON
MANAGING A NEW NUCLEAR REALITY IN SOUTH ASIA. /// END
OPT /// PAKISTAN OBVIOUSLY WILL BE PUNISHED WITH
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SANCTIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE
AGAINST INDIA. BUT SANCTIONS ARE A REACTION AGAINST
WHAT HAS HAPPENED, NOT AN EFFORT TO SHAPE WHAT LIES
AHEAD. .... THUS, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD ENCOURAGE
BOTH [NATIONS] TO TAKE ACTIONS WHICH MIGHT ALLOW THE
SANCTIONS' EARLY LIFTING. THAT MEANS FIRST PUSHING
INDIA AND PAKISTAN TO ARREST PROGRESS ON THEIR NUCLEAR
PROGRAMS BY RATIFYING THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY.
..... NOW IS THE TIME TO TWIST ARMS TO THE BREAKING
POINT, IF NEEDED, TO SECURE TREATY COMMITMENTS FROM BOTH
NATIONS. AND FOR AMERICAN ARM-TWISTING TO HAVE MAXIMUM
EFFECT, THE U-S SENATE ALSO MUST STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH
THE TREATY AND RATIFY IT FORTHWITH.
TEXT: TO THE SOUTH, NOW, AND SIMILAR THOUGHTS FROM "THE ST.
LOUIS POST-DISPATCH."
VOICE: /// OPT /// WHERE INDIA LED, PAKISTAN WAS SURE TO
FOLLOW. SWORN ENEMIES, THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVE NOW BOTH
TESTED NUCLEAR WEAPONS, DRAWING INTERNATIONAL IRE AND
PLUNGING THEIR SUBCONTINENT INTO A DANGEROUS MORASS OF
NATIONALISTIC AND BELLIGERENT RHETORIC. THE UNITED
STATES, WHICH TRIED TO PRESSURE AND CAJOLE PAKISTAN AWAY
FROM THE TESTING ROUTE, HAS FALLEN BACK AGAIN ON
CONDEMNATIONS AND ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. ..... THE UNITED
STATES FACES A NO-WIN CHOICE: MAINTAIN THESE SANCTIONS
AND HURT INDIA AND PAKISTAN OR REMOVE THEM AND DILUTE
THE MORAL LESSON THEY WERE MEANT TO TEACH.
TIME OUT. THE UNITED STATES HAS A THIRD ALTERNATIVE.
/// END OPT /// ...... ALTHOUGH WE HAVE PAID LIP SERVICE
TO ACCORDS SUCH AS THE COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY,
[CTBT] WE HAVE NOT RATIFIED THEM. AND WHILE TREATIES,
SUCH AS THE CTBT ENVISION ULTIMATE NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT,
WE HAVE NOT TAKEN THAT POSSIBILITY SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE
NOT DONE THE VISION WORK TO IMAGINE A POST-NUCLEAR
WORLD, AND HOW WE MUST RESHAPE OUR FOREIGN POLICY NOT
ONLY TO REALIZE SUCH A WORLD, BUT TO MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE
MORAL LEADERSHIP IN IT. TO GET THERE, WE MUST SET THE
EXAMPLE. RATIFYING THE CTBT IS THE BEGINNING. WITHOUT
RATIFICATION, WE WILL BE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN
STRUCTURING NEW ACCORDS TO CUT AND EVENTUALLY ELIMINATE
NUCLEAR ARSENALS.
TEXT: FROM MAINE'S "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD," NOW, SOME
SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE THE WORLD NEEDS TO GO FROM HERE.
VOICE: /// OPT /// THE NUCLEAR ARMS RACE NOW FULLY UNDER WAY IN
ASIA IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO WORLD PEACE SINCE THE
COLD WAR. ..... THE WORLD IS NOW FACING THE PROSPECT OF
SEEING ITS FIRST TWO-WAY NUCLEAR WAR BREAK OUT POSSIBLY
OVER THE DISPUTED [INDIAN] PROVINCE OF KASHMIR. .....
THE CURRENT LEADERS OF THE TWO NATIONS HAVE SHOWN
THEMSELVES TO BE EQUALLY IRRESPONSIBLE. NEITHER IS MORE
SECURE NOW THAN EITHER WAS BEFORE THE TESTS, AND THEY
HAVE ALSO RAISED THE FRIGHTENING SPECTRE OF NUCLEAR
PROLIFERATION TO OTHER NATIONS IN THE REGION. /// END
OPT /// ..... THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD OFFER SECURITY
GUARANTEES TO BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN. WHILE U-S LAW
MANDATES SLASHING NON-HUMANITARIAN FOREIGN AID AND
BUSINESS DEALS WITH BOTH NATIONS, OTHER AVENUES OF
SUPPORT CAN BE EXPLORED FOR THESE COUNTRIES NOT TO
EXPAND THEIR NUCLEAR ARSENALS FURTHER. .... THIS
SITUATION CANNOT BE UNDONE, BUT WITH HARD WORK AND A
STRONG WILL, IT CAN BE KEPT FROM GETTING WORSE. IT
COULD GET VERY MUCH WORSE INDEED.
/// OPT ///
TEXT: (OPT) IN CONNECTICUT, "THE HARTFORD CURRENT'S" LEAD
EDITORIAL MONDAY [6/1] WAS ENTITLED "INSANITY IN INDIA;
PAKISTAN," AND SAYS IN PART:
VOICE: THERE SHOULD BE NO JOY WHEN NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES,
NURSING TERRITORIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL GRIEVANCES
AGAINST EACH OTHER, EQUIP THEIR MISSILES WITH NUCLEAR
WARHEADS. THE GOVERNMENTS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE
MADE THE WORLD A FAR MORE DANGEROUS PLACE AS A RESULT OF
THEIR RECKLESS DECISIONS. THEY DESERVE THE
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED. .......
IT IS TOO LATE TO ASK THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO UNDO THE
DAMAGE DONE BY THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO NUCLEAR
PROLIFERATION. BUT THEY SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO CONTAIN
IT BY DECLARING AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM ON TESTING, AS
ALL THE OTHER NUCLEAR NATIONS HAVE DONE. .......WHAT IS
ESPECIALLY TRAGIC ABOUT THE DARK EVENTS OF THE PAST TWO
WEEKS IS THAT INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE DESTITUTE
POPULATIONS. HUNGER AND DISEASE ARE ENDEMIC. YET THEY
HAVE NUCLEAR BOMBS. WHAT A DEBASEMENT OF DECENT HUMAN
VALUES! (END OPT)
TEXT: "NEWSDAY" REPEATS THE "PORTLAND PRESS HERALD'S" WORRY THAT
THE PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM, DISPUTED PROVINCE OF KASHMIR, OVER
WHICH THE TWO NATIONS HAVE FOUGHT PAST WARS, HAS NOW BECOME "A
NUCLEAR TINDERBOX."
VOICE: THE QUESTION IS NO LONGER WHETHER THERE IS A NUCLEAR
ARMS RACE IN THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT. THE ISSUE NOW IS
WHETHER THERE IS ANY WAY TO HALT IT OR SLOW IT DOWN
BEFORE INDIA AND PAKISTAN 'WEAPONIZE' THE NUCLEAR
DEVICES THEY HAVE TESTED ....... THE TWO NATIONS .....
MUST BE PERSUADED TO SUSPEND THEIR RUSH TO ARM, BEFORE
THE DISPUTE OVER THE CONTESTED REGION OF KASHMIR LEADS
TO A NUCLEAR WAR. ..... THE PRESENT NIGHTMARE'S VERY
EXISTENCE IS DISMAL PROOF OF HOW LITTLE CLOUT AND
LEVERAGE WASHINGTON AND OTHER MAJOR POWERS POSSESS IN
THIS BRAVE NEW NUCLEAR WORLD.
/// END OPT ///
TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF THE LATEST EDITORIAL
COMMENT ON THE RECENT SERIES OF NUCLEAR TEST EXPLOSIONS IN INDIA
AND PAKISTAN.
NEB/ANG/KL
01-Jun-98 2:53 PM EDT (1853 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Vo
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