Pak. n-arms in safe hands, hopes Fernandes

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 30. Speaking against the backdrop of international concern over Pakistan's nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands, India today hoped that those in charge of the arsenal are ``responsible'' enough not to allow this to happen.

``I hope those in charge of the nuclear arsenal in Pakistan are responsible people so as not to allow these weapons to fall in the wrong hands,'' the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, said here today.

Addressing a seminar on ``The global threat of terror'', the Minister hoped that those responsible for the maintenance of these weapons ``know how to keep nuclear assets in safe custody''.

Although Mr. Fernandes appeared to give a clean chit to managers of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, he felt the possibility of genocide by terrorists still remained. He also came down hard on Islamabad for jointly ``fathering'' the Taliban along with the U.S. and sponsoring terrorism in other parts of India. Though the turnaround by Pakistan may appear ironical, he felt the new role thrust upon it by the U.S. may strike at the very foundations of its nationhood. ``Any break-up of Pakistan will jeopardise the stability of the sub-continent with consequences that defy imagination,'' he feared.

India, he said, had to ultimately fight its ``own war'' in Jammu & Kashmir after the U.S.-led alliance calls off its engagement in Afghanistan and goes back to its five-decade-old ``cozy relationship'' with Pakistan. ``Till September 11, if terrorism was indeed on display, it was Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in J & K and other parts of India. There is yet no commitment made by the U.S. to be a part of the war that India has been fighting against this terrorism for a decade.''

India, he said, has ``scrupulously avoided'' targeting the terrorist training camps because they are situated around or besides civilian population centres. Any strikes on the camps will also claim the lives of innocent people, including women and children, he added.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : We desire a dialogue: Pak.
Next     : No break during Ramadan: Rumsfeld