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Pakistan holds off on nuclear tests for now
May 19, 1998
Web posted at: 9:23 a.m. EDT (1323 GMT)From Correspondent Tom Mintier
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- The Pakistani government appears to be backing off from earlier threats to carry out nuclear tests and instead opting for the path of diplomacy.
After receiving phone calls from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. President Bill Clinton urging resistance to testing a nuclear device, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is apparently moving away from Pakistan's earlier announcement that a nuclear test could come within 24 hours.
"I think we want to show to the world Pakistan is a responsible country," Sharif said. "It can exercise restraint on itself. If India is doing this out of sheer madness ... we don't want to blindly follow suit."
India set off five nuclear test blasts -- and an international uproar -- last week. The United States, Germany, Japan and other nations immediately imposed sanctions on India and implored Pakistan not to respond to its neighbor in kind.
Sharif has admitted he faces mounting pressure from both political leaders and public opinion for a response to India's tests. He's called on the international community to not only understand Pakistan's position but to apply more pressure on India's government.
Sharif "I think India has to be punished by the international community and we should see with our own eyes the punishment being given to India on what it has done," Sharif said.
However, others in Sharif's government are holding out for a nuclear test of their own.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan told a Japanese newspaper late Monday that a decision had already been reached about conducting a test and it would only be "a matter of time."
Yet Sharif's comments seem to indicate that while Pakistan may have the capability to test a nuclear device, it isn't yet ready to face the sanctions that would surely follow.
With a much smaller economy than India and with just over $1 billion of cash reserves, Pakistan would overwhelmingly feel the sting of increased sanctions.
Its cash reserves are just enough to cover six weeks of imports. Pakistan also has a $150 million trade deficit and next month a $700 million debt repayment is due -- all of which could factor into the current mood of restraint.
At the same time Pakistan has to balance sanctions against security.
Pakistan's economy would be hard-hit by sanctions Yet it appears at least for now that Pakistan is waiting to see how much pressure is put on India by the international community, a decision that in the end may determine if Pakistan decides to test or not.
Other developments Tuesday:
Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto urged Sharif to resign for failing to respond to India's nuclear tests in a similar manner.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman blasted India, telling a news conference that India was raising a bogus threat from China as an excuse for nuclear testing.
Pakistan's top nuclear scientist was quoted as saying he is ready to carry out a nuclear test as soon as his government gives him the green light. Reuters contributed to this report.
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Related stories:
- Japanese envoy urges Pakistan to avoid N-test - May 18, 1998
- Top Pakistan official: Islamabad will test nuclear device - May 17, 1998
- Pakistan remains elusive on nuclear testing plans - May 16, 1998
- Internal opposition builds over India's nuclear tests - May 16, 1998
Related sites:
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- Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Site
- The Government of Pakistan - official site
- Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C.
- The Official Pakistan Page
- The Atomic Archive
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
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