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DATE=6/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233742
TITLE=PAK NUKES (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: PAKISTAN HAS ANNOUNCED A UNILATERAL MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR 
TESTING AND HAS OFFICIALLY OFFERED INDIA A PROPOSAL TO RESUME 
TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.  V-O-A ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT 
MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS.
TEXT:  THE PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS ANNOUNCED A UNILATERAL 
MORATORIUM ON NUCLEAR TESTING.
IN A STATEMENT PAKISTAN SAYS IT IS READY TO "ENGAGE 
CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH INDIA AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNITY TO FORMALIZE" THE MORATORIUM.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT SAYS PAKISTAN IS READY TO NEGOTIATE A 
"NO-NUCLEAR TEST AGREEMENT WITH INDIA AS AN IMPORTANT 
CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURE AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL."
IT SAYS PAKISTAN HAS REPEATEDLY STATED IT DOES  NOT  WISH TO 
ENTER INTO AN ARMS RACE WITH INDIA.
NEW DELHI HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED A MORATORIUM ON FUTURE NUCLEAR 
TESTS.
PAKISTAN HAS ALSO OFFICIALLY CONVEYED TO INDIA'S AMBASSADOR IN 
ISLAMABAD A PROPOSAL TO RESUME TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENT SAYS THE COUNTRIES SHOULD 
ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF PEACE AND SECURITY, AND THE KASHMIR 
DISPUTE.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT SAYS URGENT ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO 
AVOIDING CONFLICT AND PROMOTING NUCLEAR RESTRAINT.
LAST MONTH, BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN TESTED A SERIES OF NUCLEAR 
DEVICES.  THE TESTS LED TO RISING REGIONAL TENSIONS AND 
CONDEMNATION FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. 
THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE IMPOSED 
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON INDIA AND PAKISTAN.
THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS URGED THE TWO COUNTRIES TO RESUME 
DIALOGUE ON ISSUES SUCH AS SECURITY AND THE TERRITORIAL DISPUTE 
OVER THE KASHMIR REGION.
THE MOST RECENT TALKS BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA ARE STALLED OVER
THE KASHMIR ISSUE.
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR AND IT IS 
CONSIDERED THE MAJOR FLASH POINT FOR MILITARY CONFLICT IN THE 
REGION.
PAKISTAN WELCOMES THIRD-PARTY MEDIATION ON KASHMIR, BUT INDIA 
REJECTS SUCH OUTSIDE INVOLVEMENT SAYING THE DISPUTE IS A 
BI-LATERAL ISSUE.
THE PRIME MINISTERS OF BOTH COUNTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO MEET NEXT 
MONTH AT A REGIONAL SUMMIT IN SRI LANKA.
FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIALS HOPE THOSE TALKS WILL LEAD TO ANOTHER 
ROUND OF DIALOG BETWEEN THE SOUTH ASIAN NATIONS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/MB/TMD/GE
11-Jun-98 1:59 PM EDT (1759 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.