The Hindu : `India a fit case for pre-emptive strikes'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2003

International

International

`India a fit case for pre-emptive strikes'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD APRIL 7. In what is seen as a tit-for-tat response, Pakistan today asserted that it was India which was a `fit case for pre-emptive strikes', like the ones initiated against Iraq by the U.S.-UK coalition.

The rhetorical statement came from the Pakistan Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, on Monday on the sidelines of a seminar on "New World information order — challenges and opportunities for Pakistan".

Mr. Ahmed was responding to a question on statements attributed to the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, that India reserved the right to strike against Pakistan, borrowing the U.S. doctrine.

The war of words between India and Pakistan, which began ever since Mr. Sinha made the comments four days ago, was presumed to be closed after the U.S. State Department issued a statement that there could be no comparison between Iraq and Pakistan.

However, it appears that Islamabad is worked up over Mr. Sinha's statement that Pakistan was a "fit case for attack by the U.S.''.

Mr. Ahmed's comments seem to have a dual purpose. To appeal to the domestic audience and to send across a message to the international community in general and India in particular that Islamabad would match New Delhi word for word.

Unlike Mr. Ahmed, the Foreign Office is still not in a mood to raise the pitch. This was evident from the milder statement of the Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, expressing `shock' over Mr. Sinha's comments. Mr. Kasuri said Pakistan did not subscribe to the thesis of "pre-emptive strikes" and India "which has violated the United Nations resolutions" was in a position to invoke such doctrines.

Mr. Ahmed alleged that India had accumulated weapons of mass destruction and was responsible for the "massacre of innocent civilians in Ahmedabad and Kashmir". ``It is India, which is a fit case for pre-emptive strikes — there is ample proof that India possesses biological, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction. It has kept these weapons even with some neighbours," he claimed.

New Delhi should know that Pakistan also had a right to defend itself. "India is trying to take undue advantage of Pakistan's stance to resolve outstanding disputes through dialogue peacefully- but New Delhi should know that Pakistan has the right to ensure its defence." Mr. Ahmed asserted that if India indulged in any kind of "misadventure" it would meet a "befitting" response.

Islamabad would not provide any support to the U.S. war on Iraq.

Pakistan's refusal to vote in favour of the U.S. in the U.N. Security Council and to provide any logistic support in the Iraq war was a `bold' step.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme in Multan, he said Pakistan was not accepting U.S.' diktats on national affairs and all policies were being designed independently.

`Pak. can defend itself'

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Aziz Ahmed Khan, asserted today that his country was fully capable of defending its integrity, sovereignty and independence against any aggression from any quarter.

He said this during the weekly press briefing while commenting on a statement by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammad, that Syria, Pakistan and Iran could be the next U.S. targets.

"Pakistan and the United States enjoy very good relations," Mr. Khan said and referred to the statement by the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, that the U.S. had no intention of going after any other country after Iraq.

He termed Dr. Mahathir's statement as his own assessment.

On Yashwant Sinha's statement and any threats perceived by Pakistan in the backdrop of the attack on Iraq, Mr. Khan said that Pakistan was prepared for all eventualities and would act according to the situation.

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