Date:07/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/07/stories/2003040706161200.htm

National

`U.S. may soon turn attention on India, Pak.'

New Delhi April 6. Criticising the Centre for adopting an ``ambivalent'' stand on the Iraq issue, two former Prime Ministers today warned that the U.S. could soon turn its ``attention'' on India and Pakistan, making the excuse that they possess nuclear weapons.

``People are saying that after U.S. imposes its rule on Iraq, it will be the turn of Syria and Iran. But the day may not be too far off when India and Pakistan are included in that list because they both have nuclear capability,'' the former Prime Minister, V. P. Singh, said here.

``The U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has already thrown a challenge to the Indian leadership by saying that they must resume talks with Pakistan. This sort of implied threat is very dangerous,'' the former Prime Minister, I. K. Gujral, said.

They were speaking at a `Shanti Panchayat' (peace meeting) organised by the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) here to denounce the U.S.-led ``aggression'' on Iraq.— PTI