DATE=6/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234261 (CQ)
TITLE=PAK / U-S SANCTIONS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT HAS OFFICIALLY REACTED TO U-S
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER PAKISTAN CARRIED OUT NUCLEAR
TESTS IN MAY. A PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE
SANCTIONS ARE UNJUST AND IGNORE THE COUNTRY'S NEED TO DEFEND
ITSELF AGAINST INDIA. AYAZ GUL REPORTS FROM THE PAKISTANI
CAPITAL, ISLAMABAD.
TEXT: PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN - TARIQ ALTAF - TOLD
A NEWS CONFERENCE (SATURDAY) THAT THE U-S SANCTIONS ARE UNJUST
AND IGNORE HIS COUNTRY'S SECURITY CONCERNS IN THE WAKE OF INDIAN
NUCLEAR TESTS LAST MONTH.
//ALTAF ACT//
THE U-S ACTION DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OUR
COMPULSIONS AND THE PERILOUS THREATS TO OUR SECURITY AS
A RESULT OF THE INDIAN TESTS. PAKISTAN WOULD LIKE TO
REITERATE ITS WELL-KNOWN OPPOSITION TO THE USE OF
COERCION AS AN INSTRUMENT TO FURTHER FOREIGN POLICY
OBJECTIVES. TO ALL FAIR-MINDED PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD,
SUCH MEASURES WILL ONLY INFUSE A SENSE OF DISMAY FOR THE
INJUSTICE THAT LIES AT THE HEART OF SUCH AN EXERCISE IN
FUTILITY.
//END ACT//
INDIA CARRIED OUT FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY, PROMPTING PAKISTAN
TO RETALIATE WITH SIX NUCLEAR TESTS OF ITS OWN.
THE NUCLEAR TESTS BY THE TWO SOUTH ASIAN NATIONS INVITED
WORLDWIDE CONDEMNATION AND FEARS OF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE
REGION. // OPT // INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS
SINCE GAINING INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN IN 1947. // END OPT //
THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER NATIONS SLAPPED PUNITIVE ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS ON BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN -- IN AN EFFORT TO PERSUADE
THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TO COMMIT TO NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
AGREEMENTS.
BUT THE PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE SANCTIONS
WOULD NOT STOP HIS COUNTRY FROM TAKING MEASURES NECESSARY TO
SAFEGUARD PAKISTAN'S SECURITY.
//ALTAF ACT//
NO ONE SHOULD EXPECT PAKISTAN TO ACCEPT, MUCH LESS
IMPLEMENT, PRESCRIPTIONS DETERMINED BY A STATE OR GROUP
OF STATES UNILATERALLY. WE HAVE CHOSEN THE PATH OF SELF
RELIANCE. WE WILL SINGLE-MINDEDLY PURSUE WHAT WE DEEM IS
NECESSARY TO SAFEGUARD OUR SECURITY, INDEPENDENCE AND
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND NATIONAL INTERESTS.
//END ACT//
U-S OFFICIALS ESTIMATE WASHINGTON'S SANCTIONS, WHICH HAVE ALSO
BEEN IMPOSED ON INDIA, COULD COST PAKISTAN ONE-AND-A-HALF BILLION
DOLLARS IN LOANS FUNDED BY INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
// REST OPT //
CURRENTLY ISLAMABAD IS RECEIVING MONEY FROM A ONE-POINT-SIX
BILLION DOLLAR LOAN FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (I-M-F).
THE SANCTIONS ARE EXPECTED TO HOLD UP DISBURSEMENT OF SOME 25
MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE I-M-F LOAN AT A TIME WHEN ISLAMABAD
FACES SERIOUS PROBLEMS SERVICING ABOUT 30 BILLION DOLLARS IN
FOREIGN DEBT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/JO
20-Jun-98 11:28 AM EDT (1528 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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