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Musharraf warns against 'pre-emptive strike'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

New York sept. 12. The President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, has said that while there was a possibility of India taking the cue from the theory of pre-emptive strike vis-a-vis the weapons of mass destruction and attack Pakistan, it was unlikely as the situation was different. ``They'd better not try it,'' he warned.

In an extensive interview to The New York Times, Gen. Musharraf was asked if the doctrine of pre-emptive strike would get out of hand with India attacking Pakistan in a fashion the United States might be planning to pre-emptively attack Iraq. ``There is a possibility all right, and there's a possibility that India could take a lead from this theory of pre-emption. And they may undertake an adventurous act. But I would like to hasten to add that here the situation is different. Pakistan is not Iraq and India is not the United States. They'd better not try it,'' Gen. Musharraf replied.

He said that while the danger in the subcontinent might have receded, the capability of the forces was very much there and that intentions could change overnight. ``...at the moment, after the escalation, after the troops were moved on the borders by India and we reciprocated, of course, there's an eyeball-to-eyeball contact. The danger lies militarily when two forces have the capability of operations. The intention may have receded at the moment...but the capability of the forces confronting each other is very much there. Intentions can change overnight.''

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