Another Pak. nuclear test will be a setback: U.S.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MAY 24. The Clinton Administration is taking the position that Pakistan appears to be making preparations for a nuclear test but this has not reached the final stages and a detonation did not appear imminent.

Unnamed officials quoted in agency reports have made the point that a test by Islamabad would be a setback and the National Security Adviser to the United States President, Mr.Sandy Berger, has warned that if Pakistan went ahead with the testing, it would be a serious matter leading to the reimposition of sanctions.

Mr.Berger, in remarks to the CNN, said that the U.S. did not have ``clear evidence'' that Pakistan intended to test but went on to say,``if they did, it would be a serious matter and we would reimpose a number of sanctions that we had in the past against Pakistan''. Administration officials have also been quoted as saying that there were no indications of India making similar preparations. An official maintained that activity in Pakistan over several weeks suggested preparations for a test but the activity had tapered off and there was some uncertainty over whether the leadership in Islamabad had decided to go through with a test. At the same time, attention is focussed on India. ``We watch very closely what they're doing. Obviously, another test by Pakistan or India would be a huge setback and a step in the wrong direction. If appropriate, we will make it clear to them that this would be a mistake,'' an unnamed defence official said.

The comments of administration officials on the issue comes on the eve of the visit of the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Mr.Thomas Pickering, to Pakistan. He is expected to discuss a range of issues, including terrorism, non- proliferation and relations with India.

A fresh nuclear test by Pakistan will not be taken kindly by Washington as the Clinton administration is already under Congressional pressure to deal tough with the military Government in Islamabad on such issues as cross-border terrorism and democracy. During his very short visit to the country, the U.S. President, Mr.Bill Clinton, argued that a nuclear arms race was severely limiting Pakistan's resources.

There is no doubt that a test by Pakistan will not only bring about the mandated sanctions as warned by Mr.Berger, but also set in motion a process that will deny Islamabad the necessary backing of the U.S. in obtaining critical loans and packages from international financial institutions.

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Section  : International
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