Wednesday, Feb 12, 2003
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By B. Muralidhar Reddy
Addressing a news conference in Lahore, Mr. Kasuri alleged that there was an extremist element in the Vajpayee Government that had gained electoral dividends from incidents such as those in Gujarat and escalated tension between India and Pakistan. The Minister said Pakistan was a peaceful country but for lasting peace Kashmir must be resolved through a composite dialogue. Both India and Pakistan were nuclear powers and the international community must play a role to bring the two sides to the negotiating table. He complained that due to the rise in disparity of conventional weapons between Indian and Pakistan, the race for nuclear arms had accelerated. "Pakistan never wanted nuclear weapons in South Asia and forwarded several proposals to keep the region clean, but India always turned down the suggestions.''
Arms supply
The Minister said durable peace could not be guaranteed especially due to growing disparity of conventional weapons between the two countries. Mr. Kasuri said he told his Indian counterpart, Yashwant Sinha, that the U.S. was the main supplier of arms to Pakistan while Russia (former USSR) was supplying to India, but after sanctions, India was not at all affected as its supply continued, but Pakistan's sources of supply were cut off. Mr. Kasuri complained that the licences were delayed regarding the existing weapons which were delivered by the U.S. in the past and Pakistan was not getting spares. During his just concluded visit U.S. officials assured him that the process on licences would be accelerated. About the North Korean issue, he alleged that the Indian lobby was trying to convince the U.S. administration that Pakistan had violated international atomic regimes, but India was never asked any question as to why Canada had cancelled the supply of heavy water to India when it violated a treaty. Russia continued the supply in violation of international norms, and India was never questioned at any forum, whereas Pakistan was targeted. He said Pakistan could look after itself and it was a wrong impression that after Iraq, Pakistan would be the target. "Instead of having such fears, we should try to create internal unity for a strong Pakistan and behave like a responsible country.'' He said the political parties should be cautious in expressing anger against the government policies. Mr. Kasuri said flag and effigy burning would certainly strengthen the wrong impression that Pakistan was a "home of fanatics".
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