DATE=10/12/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN NUCLEAR - U-S (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254937
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pentagon officials say political unrest
in Pakistan does not appear to have increased the
danger that Islamabad's nuclear weapons might be
used. But V-O-A's Jim Randle reports, officials
say the uncertainty over the world's newest
nuclear power underscores the need for the test
ban treaty.
TEXT: Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon says control
of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal does not seem to be
changing hands.
/// FIRST BACON ACT ///
It is my understanding that the Pakistani
Army has controlled the nuclear program,
and the security of the nuclear weapons, as
a matter of course. So I don't think that
anything should change, based on the events
that we see taking place in Pakistan.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Bacon says it is difficult for U-S military
officials to learn what is going on in Islamabad
because military-to-military ties were severed
nine years ago. That is when Washington cut aid
to Pakistan when officials suspected - correctly
- that Islamabad was developing nuclear weapons.
Pakistan and its neighbor and rival India both
set off underground nuclear weapons tests in
1998, making it very clear that each could
devastate the other. U-S officials say both
nations are also developing or importing
ballistic missile technology that could
eventually be used to deliver nuclear bombs.
Mr. Bacon spoke as the U-S Senate was considering
the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
/// SECOND BACON ACT ///
I think it (events in Pakistan) does
underscore the need for treaties like the
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty, that
would if in effect, make it more difficult
for countries to develop nuclear weapons.
Pakistan has not signed the treaty but both
India and Pakistan have both indicated that
they could in the future perhaps sign the
treaty, and that would be good because it
make the further developent of nuclear
weapons more difficult, if they cannot test
them.
/// END ACT ///
Concern in Washington and other capitals grows
out of the longstanding bitter relations between
India and Pakistan. The two nations have fought
three wars in the past 50 years and have just
gone through an armed confrontation over the
disputed territory of Kashmir.
Many experts in military matters and regional
politics say they are worried that a new
confrontation between the two bitter rivals could
escalate to a nuclear exchange. They say those
fears are compounded by the uncertainty over
Pakistan's current political situation.
Even if Islamabad and New Delhi avoid using
nuclear weapons, they both deploy powerful
conventional military forces that could kill a
large number of people in the event of war.
India fields nearly one-point-two million active
duty military personnel and about 840 combat
aircraft. Pakistan, a far smaller nation, has
about 600-thousand people in uniform and just
over 400 combat aircraft. (Signed)
NEB/JR/TVM/gm
12-Oct-1999 16:20 PM EDT (12-Oct-1999 2020 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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