DATE=7/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235907
TITLE=PAK / U-S / NUCLEAR (L)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AFTER TWO DAYS OF TALKS IN ISLAMABAD, SENIOR U-S AND
PAKISTANI OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE HELD SUBSTANTIVE AND
CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS ON NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION AND OTHER
ISSUES, BUT THEY SAY THE TWO COUNTRIES NEED TO CONTINUE THE
DIALOGUE NEXT MONTH. AYAZ GUL REPORTS FROM THE PAKISTANI
CAPITAL.
TEXT: DEPUTY U-S SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT HELD A FINAL
UNSCHEDULED MEETING (THURSDAY) WITH PAKISTAN'S TOP DIPLOMAT
--SHAMSHAD AHMED -- BEFORE DEPARTING FOR WASHINGTON.
THE TWO OFFICIALS SPOKE TO REPORTERS FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER TWO
DAYS OF INTENSIVE TALKS IN ISLAMABAD.
MR. TALBOTT SAID THE COMPREHENSIVE (NUCLEAR) TEST BAN TREATY --
CTBT -- WAS DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH OTHER ISSUES, IN WHAT HE
DESCRIBED AS SOLID AND SERIOUS TALKS.
///TALBOTT ACT///
WE BELIEVE, ALONG WITH VIRTUALLY THE REST OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, THAT IT IS IN EVERYBODY'S
INTEREST, INCLUDING THE INTEREST OF PAKISTAN, TO HAVE A
UNIVERSAL ADHERENCE TO THE C-T-B-T. SO OF COURSE THAT
WAS ONE OF THE MANY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE WORKED ON HERE
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. THESE HAVE BEEN SOLID AND
SERIOUS TALKS. OUR WORK IS NOT DONE AND AS THE
(PAKISTAN) FOREIGN SECRETARY SAID WE HAVE AGREED TO MEET
AGAIN IN ABOUT A MONTH.
/// END ACT ///
FEARS OF A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA WERE RAISED IN MAY
FOLLOWING RIVAL NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN. SINCE THEN
WASHINGTON HAS INTENSIFIED EFFORTS TO BRING THE TWO COUNTRIES
UNDER THE TEST BAN TREATY TO DEFUSE NUCLEAR TENSION IN THE
REGION.
SHAMSHAD AIMED TOLD REPORTERS PAKISTAN WILL NOT SIGN THE C-T-B-T
AS LONG AS ITS REGIONAL SECURITY CONGRESS ARE NOT ADDRESSED.
/// AHMED ACT ///
LET ME TELL YOU ONE THING -- WHAT ARE OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY INTERESTS? OBVIOUSLY ONE ASPECT, NO DURESS.
SECOND, I SAID THAT THERE HAS TO BE A CLEAR
DEMONSTRATION OF EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT ON THE PART OF THE
MAJOR POWERS IN THE PROCESS OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN
SOUTH ASIA WHICH HAS TO FOCUS ON KASHMIR, BECAUSE AS FAR
AS THE SITUATION OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN SOUTH ASIA IS
CONCERNED, IT IS ENTIRELY PREDICATED ON HOW WE PROCEED
IN RESPECT OF KASHMIR.
///END ACT///
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR AND THE
HIMALAYAN REGION CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR SOURCE OF TENSION
BETWEEN THE TWO NEIGHBORING NATIONS.
MR. TALBOTT SAID THE UNITED STATES ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO
THE UPCOMING MEETING BETWEEN PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER, NAWAZ
SHARIF, AND HIS INDIAN COUNTERPART, ATAL BEHARI VAJPAYEE, ON THE
SIDELINES OF A REGIONAL SUMMIT IN SRI LANKA LATER THIS MONTH.
///TALBOTT ACT (OPT)///
THAT OBVIOUSLY RELATES INTIMATELY TO A NUMBER OF THE
SUBJECTS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE, AND WE THINK IT
IS A VERY GOOD THING THAT THE DIRECT PAKISTAN-INDIAN
DIALOGUE IS TO RESUME AND WE WILL BE WATCHING AND WE
WILL BE SUPPORTING IN EVERY WAY WE CAN.
///END ACT///
PAKISTAN IS SEEKING INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION TO HELP RESOLVE
THE KASHMIR ISSUE. INDIA REJECTS OUTSIDE MEDIATION, SAYING IT
SHOULD BE RESOLVED BILATERALLY. NEW DELHI CONTROLS TWO-THIRDS OF
THE REGION AND PAKISTAN THE REST.(SIGNED)
NEB/AG/LTD/KL
23-Jul-98 9:57 AM EDT (1357 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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