U.S. missile system will not save India: Pak. scientist

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, MAY 15. A Pakistani paper quoting an unnamed senior scientist has said the U.S. anti-missile system would neither save India from a missile attack nor provide hundred percent guarantee to any country from similar attacks.

The Urdu daily, Jang, in a report today, said the controversial National Missile Defence (NMD) proposed by the Bush administration would lead to a new

missile race all over the world affecting previous international accords in this regard.

Quoting an unidentified Pakistan scientist, it said if the world got engaged in producing a new foolproof system, it would badly affect the economies of countries involved in the race.

The scientist told the paper that Pakistan's opposition to the system should not be termed as a row between Islamabad and Washington. The system was developed only to save the U.S. from long distance missiles. Its activating time was not less than 25 to 30 minutes. But, if India and Pakistan get involved in a missile war, the warning time would be less than 10 minutes and it would be ineffective against Pakistan.

In another report, the paper said the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, would meet the U.S. Secretary of State, Mr. Colin Powell, and other senior officials of the Bush administration on June 19 in Washington.

Mr. Sattar was invited by Mr. Powell and a lot of importance is being attached to the visit. It is the first high- level contact between Islamabad and the Bush administration.

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Section  : International
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