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DATE=7/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234873
TITLE=PAKISTAN DEFECTION (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   A MAN WHO CLAIMS TO BE A HIGH-LEVEL PAKISTANI NUCLEAR 
SCIENTIST SAYS PAKISTAN PLANNED A NUCLEAR STRIKE AGAINST INDIA 
EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT LATER CANCELLED THE PLAN.  THE MAN IS NOW 
SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES.  V-O-A'S MAX 
RUSTON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.
TEXT:   IFTIKHAR CHAUDHRY KHAN SAYS HE WAS AN INSTRUMENTAL MEMBER
OF PAKISTAN'S ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION AND HAS FIRST-HAND 
KNOWLEDGE OF PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAMS.  HE CLAIMS TO 
HAVE ATTENDED A MEETING IN PAKISTAN IN APRIL IN WHICH TOP 
OFFICIALS DECIDED TO LAUNCH A PREEMPTIVE NUCLEAR STRIKE ON INDIA,
IN THE BELIEF THAT INDIA WAS PREPARING A STRIKE AGAINST THEIR 
COUNTRY.
PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES HAVE DISMISSED THE CHARGE, SAYING MR. KHAN 
WAS A LOW-LEVEL CIVIL ENGINEER WITHOUT ACCESS TO SENSITIVE 
INFORMATION.  THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT IS UNABLE TO 
CONFIRM OR DENY INFORMATION CONCERNING 29 YEAR OLD MR. KHAN.
MR. KHAN IS SEEKING POLITICAL ASYLUM IN THE UNITED STATES.  HIS 
LAWYER, MICHAEL WILDES, DESCRIBED THE MEETING IN PAKISTAN AT 
WHICH MR. KHAN LEARNED OF THE ALLEGED MILITARY PLANS.
                       /// WILDES ACT ///
         IT WAS DECIDED AT THAT MEETING THAT THEY WOULD 
         PREEMPTIVELY STRIKE -- WITH NEW DELHI AS THE TARGET -- 
         AT INDIA, AND HE WAS THERE TO PRESENT INFORMATION AND 
         REPORT ON THE STORAGE, LOCATION, YIELD, THE RANGE AND 
         THE READINESS OF PAKISTAN'S CONVENTIONAL AND NUCLEAR 
         FORCES.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. KHAN CLAIMS THAT OFFICIALS AT THAT MEETING INCLUDED 
PAKISTAN'S CHIEF OF ARMY STAFF, THE FOREIGN MINISTER, A SPECIAL 
ASSISTANT TO THE PRIME MINISTER, THE CHIEF OF AIR STAFF AND THE 
JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF.
MR. KHAN WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE BACKING UP THE CHARGES.
HIS LAWYER SAYS HE HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH U-S INTELLIGENCE 
SERVICES BUT WOULD NOT PROVIDE DETAILS.
MR. KHAN SAYS HE AND FOUR OTHER SCIENTISTS WROTE A LETTER TO 
PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT PLANS TO USE 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  HE SAYS HE THEN FLED THE COUNTRY OUT OF CONCERN
FOR HIS SAFETY.  HE SAYS HE IS NOW WORRIED THAT THE LIVES OF HIS 
SON AND WIFE, STILL IN PAKISTAN, ARE IN DANGER.  (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT
01-Jul-98 6:09 PM EDT (2209 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.