File spoon-archives/postcolonial.archive/postcolonial_1998/postcolonial.9805, message 288


Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 11:36:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: David Butz <dbmarley-AT-spartan.ac.BrockU.CA>
Subject: Here we go... Act II




                                 SPECIAL ISSUE
                                 _____________

                   PAKISTAN RESPONDS TO INDIAN NUCLEAR THREAT

                         Conducts Five (5) Nuclear Tests



        Pakistan has responded  to  Indian  nuclear  testing and mouting
        Indian threats of attack on Pakistan territory.

        Tests have been  conducted  after  hours  of  receiving credible
        evidence  of  imminent  Indian   attack  on   Pakistan   nuclear
        installations and continuing  heavy  by Indian forces at Line of
        Control (ceasefire line) in Azad Kashmir.

        The balance of power has been restored back to pre-May 11, 1998,
        the day India conducted its Nuclear testing. Heightened tensions
        are likely to ease as  both  country  are  now likely to go back
        to the negotiating table.

        However, in this attempt  of self-defence against India Pakistan
        is likely  to  face   discrimminatory   sanctions. The sanctions
        on India have been relatively mild.



 3. Nawaz Sharif Announces Nuclear ..................... from Meredith Buel/VOA

                                      from
                               Meredith Buel/VOA
                      Nawaz Sharif Announces Nuclear Tests



    DATE=5/28/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-232915
    TITLE=PAK NUKE TEST (L)
    BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
    DATELINE=ISLAMABAD



    INTRO:  PAKISTAN  PRIME  MINISTER  NAWAZ  SHARIF  SAYS  HIS  COUNTRY HAS
    CONDUCTED FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS IN  RESPONSE  TO THE SAME NUMBER OF NUCLEAR
    TESTS BY INDIA. VOA ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS.

    TEXT: IN A NATIONALLY TELEVISED  ADDRESS  PAKISTAN  PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ
    SHARIF ANNOUNCED PAKISTAN  HAS  SUCCESSFULLY  CARRIED  OUT  FIVE NUCLEAR
    TESTS.

    THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS PAKISTAN HAS NOW BECOME A NUCLEAR POWER.

    MR. SHARIF CALLED THE TESTS THE RESULT OF A "STRONG AND BOLD DECISION."

    THE TESTS WERE  CARRIED  OUT  IN  THE   CHAGAI   REGION   OF  PAKISTAN'S
    SOUTHWESTERN BALUCHISTAN PROVINCE.

    IN ADDITION TO ITS NUCLEAR TESTS PAKISTAN  HAS DEPLOYED ITS INTERMEDIATE
    RANGE GHAURI  MISSILE.  THE  GHAURI  MISSILE  IS  CAPABLE  OF  TRAVELING
    15-HUNDRED KILOMETERS AND CARRYING A PAYLOAD OF 700-KILOGRAMS.

    OFFICIALS FROM THE UNITED STATES  AND  OTHER COUNTRIES TRIED TO PERSUADE
    PAKISTAN NOT TO TEST A NUCLEAR  DEVICE.  PRIME MINISTER SHARIF HAS FACED
    INTENSE DOMESTIC PRESSURE TO RESPOND  TO INDIA'S FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS. THE
    UNITED STATES AND  OTHER  COUNTRIES  WILL  SLAP  ECONOMIC  SANCTIONS  ON
    PAKISTAN FOR CONDUCTING THE TESTS.

    IN HIS TELEVISED ADDRESS  PRIME  MINISTER  SHARIF  TOLD  PAKISTANIS HARD
    TIMES ARE AHEAD BECAUSE OF THE  ECONOMIC  SANCTIONS. WESTERN NATIONS ARE
    CONCERNED PAKISTAN AND INDIA'S TESTS  COULD SPARK A NUCLEAR WEAPONS RACE
    IN SOUTH ASIA.

    THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE TESTS  CAME  HOURS  AFTER  PAKISTAN WARNED INDIA
    AGAINST ANY ATTACK ON ITS NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS.

    A FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT SAYS  SUCH  AN ATTACK WILL WARRANT A "SWIFT
    AND MASSIVE RETALIATION  WITH  UNFORESEEN  CONSEQUENCES."  THE STATEMENT
    SAYS ISLAMABAD HAS RECEIVED "CREDIBLE  INFORMATION" OF A POSSIBLE ATTACK
    BY INDIA ON ITS  NUCLEAR  INSTALLATIONS.  THE  STATEMENT SAYS THE INDIAN
    AMBASSADOR TO ISLAMABAD WAS SUMMONED  TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AND WARNED
    AGAINST ANY SUCH ATTACKS.

    THE STATEMENT SAYS  IMMEDIATE  MESSAGES  WERE  TRANSMITTED TO THE UNITED
    STATES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.


 4. Pakistan Underground Nuclear .......................... from Jim Randle/VOA

                                      from
                                 Jim Randle/VOA
                       Pakistan Underground Nuclear Tests



    DATE=5/28/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-232908
    TITLE=PAK TEST MONITORING (S)
    BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
    DATELINE=WASHINGTON



    INTRO: PAKISTAN'S GOVERNMENT SAYS  THE  SOUTH  ASIAN NATION EXPLODED TWO
    NUCLEAR WEAPONS AT  AN  UNDERGROUND  TEST  SITE.  THE  MOVE FOLLOWS FIVE
    NUCLEAR TESTS BY NEIGHBOR AND  RIVAL  INDIA. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS,
    OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON ARE WORKING TO CONFIRM THE LONG-EXPECTED TEST.

    TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY  THEY  HAVE  NOT  YET  RECEIVED INDEPENDENT
    CONFIRMATION OF THE PAKISTANI  TESTS,  AND  A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NATIONAL
    SECURITY COUNCIL SAYS THEY ARE ACTIVLY SEEKING SCIENTIFIC VERIFICATION.

    NUCLEAR WEAPONS EXPERTS  SAY  SUCH  TESTS  SEND  SEISMIC  WAVES THAT CAN
    DETECTED AROUND THE GLOBE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. THEY SAY IT TAKES SOME
    TIME AND COMPUTER POWER  TO  ANALYZE  THE  DATA  TO  TELL THE DIFFERENCE
    BETWEEN AN EARTHQUAKE AND A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION.

    THE EARLIER NUCLEAR TESTS  IN  INDIA  WERE  DETECTED  BY  MORE  THAN 100
    SEISMIC MONITORS IN A GLOBAL NETWORK OF SEVERAL HUNDRED.

    EXPERTS SAY A NUCLEAR  BLAST  EQUIVALENT  TO  ONE  THOUSAND TONS OF HIGH
    EXPLOSIVE WOULD SHOW UP AS A  SEISMIC  EVENT  OF ABOUT FOUR POINT ONE ON
    THE RICHTER EARTHQUAKE MEASURINIG SCALE.


 5. Pakistan Tests Confirmed ........................... from David Gollust/VOA

                                      from
                               David Gollust/VOA
                            Pakistan Tests Confirmed



    DATE=5/28/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-232912
    TITLE=U-S REACT/PAKISTAN (S)
    BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
    DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE



    INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY  THEY  HAVE  INDEPENDENT  CONFIRMATION  OF  THE
    PAKISTANI NUCLEAR TESTS, AND THAT PRESIDENT  CLINTON IS DISAPPOINTED AND
    VERY CONCERNED ABOUT PAKISTAN'S  ACTIONS.  V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS
    FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

    TEXT: OFFICIALS  HERE  SAY  THE  TESTS   OCCURRED  DESPITE  A  MIDNIGHT
    WASHINGTON TIME TELEPHONE CALL BY  PRESIDENT  CLINTON TO PAKISTANI PRIME
    MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF IMPLORING HIM NOT TO PROCEED.

    SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID MR.  CLINTON  IS DISAPPOINTED THAT HIS PLEAS
    AND THOSE OF OTHER WORLD LEADERS  FOR  PAKISTAN TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT IN
    THE FACE OF INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS WERE NOT PERSUASIVE.

    AT THE SAME TIME, HE  SAID  THE  PRESIDENT  UNDERSTANDS  THE  DIFFICULTY
    PAKISTAN'S GOVERNMENT  FACES  AND  HAS  GREAT  PERSONAL  RESPECT FOR MR.
    SHARIF.

    MR. MCCURRY SAID UNDER  U-S  NON-PROLIFERATION  LAW,  THE ADMINISTRATION
    WILL MOVE AHEAD IMMEDIATELY WITH THE SAME SWEEPING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IT
    IMPOSED UPON INDIA AND  --  THE  SPOKESMAN  SAID  --  THERE WILL BE REAL
    CONSEQUENCES.


 6. Pakistan Nukes: Indian Reaction ....................... from Jim Teeple/VOA

                                      from
                                 Jim Teeple/VOA
                        Pakistan Nukes: Indian Reaction



    DATE=5/28/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-232916
    TITLE=PAK NUKE/INDIA REACT (L)
    BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE
    DATELINE=NEW DELHI



    INTRO: INDIA REACTED QUICKLY  TO  WORD  OF  THE PAKISTANI NUCLEAR TESTS.
    NEWS OF THE OF THE TESTS  SURPRISED  MANY  IN  THE INDIAN CAPITAL, AS WE
    HEAR FROM V-O-A'S JIM TEEPLE IN NEW DELHI.

    TEXT: PRIME MINISTER ATAL BIHARI  VAJPAYEE  WAS  ADDRESSING A SESSION OF
    THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE  INDIAN  PARLIAMENT  WHEN  NEWS  OF THE PAKISTANI
    DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED.

    // INSERT HINDI ACTUALITY OF VAJPAYEE //

    MR. VAJPAYEE TOLD LAWMAKERS THE  PAKISTANI  NUCLEAR TESTS VINDICATED HIS
    DECISION TWO WEEKS AGO  TO  DETONATE  FIVE  NUCLEAR  DEVICES.  LAWMAKERS
    IMMEDIATELY ERUPTED IN SHOUTING AT  THE  ANNOUNCEMENT,  BUT MR. VAJPAYEE
    APPEALED FOR UNITY IN THE  FACE  OF  WHAT  HE  DESCRIBED  AS  AN OUTSIDE
    THREAT.

    COMMODORE UDAY BHASKAR THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR  OF THE INSTITUTE FOR DEFENSE
    STUDIES AND ANALYSIS IN NEW DELHI SAYS BOTH THE PAKISTANI AND THE INDIAN
    NUCLEAR TESTS SHOULD BE SEEN IN THEIR PROPER CONTEXT.

    // INSERT BHASKAR ACTUALITY //

    A NUCLEAR TEST BY ITSELF SHOULD  NOT  BE SEEN AS DESTABILIZING. THIS HAS
    TO PLACED IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT.  OVER  THE LAST FIFTY YEARS THE WORLD HAS
    WITNESSED ABOUT 22-HUNDRED NUCLEAR  TESTS.  THE  U-S HAS CONDUCTED ABOUT
    12-HUNDRED, THE FORMER SOVIET  UNION,  NOW  RUSSIA, HAS 900, FRANCE, 210
    AND CHINA 45. SO THEREFORE ONE HAS TO  SEE THE NUCLEAR TESTS IN A LARGER
    POLITICAL CONTEXT.

    // END ACTUALITY //

    COMMODORE BHASKAR SAYS NOW THAT  PAKISTAN  HAS CONDUCTED ITS OWN NUCLEAR
    TESTS BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE A CHANCE TO  BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS -- TO EASE THE
    TENSIONS WHICH HAVE GRIPPED BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN RECENTLY.


 7. Pakistan to Retaliate if Attacked .................. from Meredith Buel/VOA

                                      from
                               Meredith Buel/VOA
                       Pakistan to Retaliate if Attacked



    DATE=5/28/98
    TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
    NUMBER=2-232900
    TITLE=PAK / INDIA / UPDATE (S)
    BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
    DATELINE=ISLAMABAD



    INTRO: PAKISTAN IS WARNING INDIA ANY ATTACK ON ITS NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS
    WILL WARRANT A  SWIFT  AND  MASSIVE   RETALIATION.  AS  V-O-A  ISLAMABAD
    CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS, SOURCES SAY PAKISTAN IS STEPPING UP
    SECURITY AT ITS NUCLEAR SITES AND HAS BEGUN DEPLOYING INTERMEDIATE-RANGE
    MISSILES.

    TEXT: A STATEMENT FROM THE PAKISTAN  FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS ISLAMABAD HAS
    RECEIVED "CREDIBLE INFORMATION"  OF  A  POSSIBLE  ATTACK BY INDIA ON ITS
    NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS.

    THE STATEMENT SAYS THE INDIAN  AMBASSADOR  TO  ISLAMABAD WAS SUMMONED TO
    THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AND TOLD ANY SUCH ATTACK WOULD WARRANT A "SWIFT AND
    MASSIVE RETALIATION -- WITH UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES."

    THE STATEMENT SAYS  IMMEDIATE  MESSAGES  WERE  TRANSMITTED TO THE UNITED
    STATES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.

    SOURCES WHO ASKED NOT  TO  BE  IDENTIFIED  SAY  PAKISTAN  IS STEPPING UP
    SECURITY AT ITS  NUCLEAR  SITES.  SOURCES  ALSO  SAY  PAKISTAN HAS BEGUN
    DEPLOYING ITS INTERMEDIATE-RANGE  GHAURI  MISSILES.  THE MOVES COME AMID
    EVIDENCE PAKISTAN IS MAKING  FINAL  PREPARATIONS  TO  CONDUCT  A NUCLEAR
    TEST.

    U-S OFFICIALS ARE TRYING  TO  PERSUADE  PAKISTAN  NOT  TO TEST A NUCLEAR
    DEVICE, ALTHOUGH THERE  IS  MOUNTING  PRESSURE  ON  ISLAMABAD  TO  MATCH
    INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS.



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