DATE=12/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243480
TITLE=PAKISTAN INDIA RUSSIA (L)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN SAYS A NEW MILITARY AGREEMENT SIGNED BY RUSSIA
AND INDIA IS A -- DANGEROUS DEVELOPMENT -- IN THE REGION. A
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE AGREEMENT WILL FORCE PAKISTAN
TO "AUGMENT" ITS DEFENSE CAPABILITY. AYAZ GUL HAS THE STORY FROM
THE PAKISTANI CAPITAL.
TEXT: A PAKISTAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS (THURSDAY) HIS
COUNTRY FEELS THREATENED BY THE NEW MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN
MOSCOW AND NEW DELHI, WHICH HE SAYS WILL ALLOW INDIA TO MAKE
MASSIVE PURCHASES OF RUSSIAN ARMS.
// ALTAF ACT //
SUCH ACQUISITION OF SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS WOULD DESTROY
THE BALANCE OF POWER IN AN ALREADY PRECARIOUS AND HIGHLY
VOLATILE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT. IT WILL CERTAINLY POSE A
THREAT TO PAKISTAN'S SECURITY. PAKISTAN WILL BE FORCED
TO APPROPRIATELY AUGMENT ITS DEFENSE CAPABILITIES BY ALL
AVAILABLE MEANS.
// END ACT //
THE MILITARY COOPERATION PACT RUNS THROUGH THE YEAR 2010, IT WAS
SIGNED TUESDAY DURING RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV'S
VISIT TO NEW DELHI.
THE PAKISTANI SPOKESMAN SAYS INDIA'S FOCUS ON ACCUMULATING
FURTHER MILITARY POWER WILL NOT HELP TO REDUCE REGIONAL TENSION.
// ALTAF ACT //
THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE BOUND TO ADVERSELY IMPACT ON OUR
EFFORTS TO PROMOTE A STRATEGIC RESTRAINT REGIME IN A
NUCLEARIZED SOUTH ASIA. THE BILATERAL DIALOGUE PROCESS
BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL IMMEASURABLY SUFFER.
// END ACT //
PAKISTAN AND INDIA CARRIED OUT NUCLEAR TEST EXPLOSIONS LAST MAY.
IN OCTOBER, THE TWO RIVAL NATIONS RESUMED HIGH LEVEL OFFICIAL
TALKS TO REDUCE THE NUCLEAR TENSION AND TRY TO RESOLVE THE DISUTE
OVER KASHMIR, A REGION DIVIDED BETWEEN THEM..
INDIA AND PAKISTAN HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER THE REGION AND
OBSERVERS HAVE LONG EXPRESSED CONCERN KASHMIR COULD SPARK A
MAJOIR CONFLICT BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN. (SIGNED)
NEB/AG/RAE
24-Dec-98 10:58 AM EST (1558 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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