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Pak may skip N-test if given weapons to match India, says Ayub Khan

Pakistani Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan has for the first time said his country may not conduct a nuclear test if it is given weapons to restore military and strategic balance with India and economic aid within a month's time.

''Yes, there is such a possibility, if we are given those weapons which restore our military and strategic balance with India and if we are given economic aid. Then perhaps the government may consider this possibility. The only possibility for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief is to convince the people, the Muslim League, about a cover-up. This should be given to us in the shortest possible time, say in about a month's time,'' Ayub Khan told Outlook magazine.

However, when asked about his statement that the question of Pakistan's nuclear test was not one of 'if' but 'when', he replied, ''The 'when' is very much there.''

Earlier, an Islambad report also quoted Ayub Khan as indicating in an interview to BBC that Pakistan may not go in for a nuclear test if it was supplied with weapons.

Ayub Khan said if weapons and economic aid were not given, there would be an agitation against the government. This backlash would come from the Opposition, students and labour.

''By cover gap I mean, we should be given conventional weapons so advanced that they can take on the Indian conventional weapons system. But whatever has to be given, should be given immediately. And we certainly can't pay for it. We will also need a financial package which the finance minister has prepared.''

According to the foreign minister, talks between India and Pakistan ''are very difficult in the immediate future.'' Referring to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's offer of talks, he said it did not look as if ''they are interested in these talks.''

''The core issue is really Kashmir. The talks are very difficult in the immediate future. There was a possibility of talks in July, but the manner in which the Indian leadership is making rash and aggressive statements, they are doing more damage than anything else.''

UNI

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