Posted on 06/01/2002 12:53:23 PM PDT by krodriguesdc
Musharraf dismisses nuclear fears
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is playing down fears of a nuclear conflict with India.
He has made assurances to the world that he believes neither side would be "irresponsible" enough to start a nuclear war.
"I don't think either side is that irresponsible to go to that limit," Musharraf told CNN.
"I would even go to the extent of saying one shouldn't even be discussing these things, because any sane individual cannot even think of going into this unconventional war, whatever the pressures."
The nuclear-armed neighbors have mobilized a total of a million troops on their border.
India has a stated policy of "no strike first" with nuclear weapons. However, Pakistan, with a much smaller military, does not have an official policy on the matter. Musharraf said that Pakistan backs something "much bigger than that."
"We've called for a no-war pact with India, that there shouldn't be any war," he said. "We've called for de-nuclearization of South Asia, so we've called for reduction of forces."
Musharraf insisted that "nothing is happening across the Line of Control," but noted "it should not end there."
"There has to be some movement forward," he said. "And the movement forward is certainly the issue of addressing, initiating the process of dialogue, and squarely addressing the dispute of Kashmir."
Story filed: 18:30 Saturday 1st June 2002
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