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Sunday, Nov 23, 2008
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I am for no-first use of nuclear weapons: Zardari

Sandeep Dikshit

“Pakistan will not interfere in J&K”

NEW DELHI: Pakistan President Asif Zardari said on Saturday he would work on a no-first-use (NFU) policy of nuclear weapons and assured India that his government would not interfere in Jammu and Kashmir.

This is the first time that Pakistan has advocated the policy of no-first use of nuclear weapons.

“We will most certainly not use it first. I don’t agree ... to nuclear weapons. I hope we never get to that position. I am against nuclear warfare altogether,” Mr. Zardari said when asked if Pakistan would adopt the NFU policy. To this end, he promised to work with his Parliament while wanting to know if the Indian Parliament would do the same.

Credible deterrent

India is a strong votary of the NFU policy along with a credible minimum deterrent, whereas Pakistan has been reluctant to endorse this policy.

“India, mindful of its international obligations, shall not use these weapons to commit aggression or to mount threats against any country; these are weapons of self-defence and to ensure in turn that India is also not subjected to nuclear threats or coercion,” Atal Bihari Vajpayee told Parliament a decade ago when he was Prime Minister.

On the other hand, Pakistan feels it has little strategic depth and must deliver a crippling blow when matters reach critical mass between both nations. But speaking via videoconferencing at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Mr. Zardari said, “most definitely. We hope we will never get into that position [of using nuclear weapons]. I am for a South Asian Non-Nuclear Treaty … I can get my Parliament to agree to it right away. Can you get your Parliament to agree to it?”

Mr. Zardari said both countries should “decide” to resolve the problem and maintained that the region belonged “to the Kashmiri people.” He saw “a little Indian” in every Pakistani and “a little Pakistani” in every Indian.

“Join us, help us to end this mindset that keeps us away,” he said adding that India and Pakistan had a great future together.

Asked whether India could expect peaceful elections in J&K, Mr. Zardari maintained that his government did not interfere in the internal matters of the State and this policy would continue.

This contrasted with the recent comments by the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson on the elections J&K, which were deemed interference by his Indian counterpart.

Mr. Zardari advocated e-cards which could be swiped at the border to ease cumbersome travel restrictions, and was looking into issues to increase direct trade with India.

He acknowledged the economic turbulence in his country and pointed out that it had approached the International Monetary Fund for a bail-out package.

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