Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 31, 2002
Pakistan has threatened to use nuclear
weapons even if India were to stick to conventional arms, asserting that
it has never subscribed to a 'no-first-use' of atomic weapons.
"India should not have the licence
to kill with conventional weapons while Pakistan's hands are tied regarding
other means to defend itself," said its new ambassador to the United Nations
Munir Akram.
The highly provocative statements
by Mr. Akram on his second day in office on Wednesday surprised diplomats
and officials at the UN, who declined to make immediate comment.
In New Delhi, a spokesperson from
the ministry of external affairs reacted to Mr. Akram's statement by saying
it was "yet another manifestation of loose talk" by Pakistan.
"We are amazed at the sheer irresponsibility
of the Pakistani statement," she said. India had never sought to strike
any alarmist postures in the current context except to reiterate that the
focus here was on terrorism, she said.
At his first news conference after
taking over, Mr. Akram said any action by India across the border, any
aerial attack on Pakistani territory and its assets, and any action to
strangle it economically would be viewed as aggression and would be met
with a Pakistani response
Noting that both India and Pakistan
possessed nuclear weapons, he said, while that should instill restraint
on (both sides, "it does not seem to do so on India". The sharp comments,
some diplomats believe, could mean that Pakistan plans to use the UN for
anti-India propaganda.
Mr Akram, who had been his country's
ambassador to the UN at Geneva, is known for his rhetoric against India.
He has also made highly provocative statements in the past on Kashmir during
debates, whether the occasion demanded them or not.
Pakistan, Mr Akram claimed, believed
in 'no-first-use' of force. That was the reason that Islamabad had offered
a non-aggression pact to New Delhi but India had rejected it, he said,
adding, "If India reserved the right to use conventional weapons, how could
Pakistan-a weaker power-be expected to rule out all means of deterrence?"
Mr Akram said the Security Council should address the issues of tension
between India and Pakistan which constituted a threat to international
peace and security.
Mr Akram rejected the charge that
Pakistan was helping militants to infiltrate into Kashmir. India had 150,000
troops along the Line of Control-an 850-kilometre line-he pointed out
Meanwhile, the MEA spokesperson
said that Pakistan had been a sponsor of terrorism and that it had refused
to heed the requirements of international law as laid down in UN Security
Council resolutions.
