The Hindu : N-arms possession implies usage: Musharraf

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 05, 2002

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N-arms possession implies usage: Musharraf

ALMATY JUNE 4. The possession of nuclear weapons implies that there are circumstances under which they will be used, but it is "irresponsible" for a leader to discuss such things, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, said today.

Asked by mediapersons to spell out Pakistan's nuclear policy and explain why it will not renounce the first use of nuclear weapons in case of a war, as India had, Gen. Musharraf said, ``the possession of nuclear weapons by any state obviously implies that they will be used under some circumstances.''

Pakistan's larger policy, however, was the de-nuclearisation of South Asia. ``Never in the history of Pakistan has the nuclear arsenal ever been deployed, never have even the missiles been deployed,'' he said.

Speaking after the 16-nation Asian summit at which he and the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, did not interact, he said ``Pakistan will never initiate a war... but will defend its honour and dignity with full resolve,'' and added that ``the reality of the tension between India and Pakistan is that India is continually threatening Pakistan with an attack and also refusing (to enter into) a dialogue.'' Almost everyday, there were reports Mr. Vajpayee and the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, threatening to ``teach Pakistan a lesson'' or discussing strikes into Pakistani territory.

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, had invited him to Moscow, Gen. Musharraf said.

He had accepted the invitation to go there for talks with Mr. Vajpayee, but did not know if the Prime Minister would go. Mr. Putin would be inviting Mr. Vajpayee, he said.

After his meeting with Mr. Putin on the sidelines of the summit, Gen. Musharraf said ``he invited me in principle and I will go when we have fixed the dates... I appreciate the effort of Mr. Putin to bring both Mr. Vajpayee and myself to the negotiating table.'' — AP, AFP

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