CTBT Implications on pakistan
CTBT Implications, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar, Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad, January 4, 2000
At a time when Pakistan has been the target of vicious Indian propaganda, motivated by a preconceived design to falsely implicate Pakistan in the Indian plane’s hijacking incident, it may seem odd to speak about the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. But this meeting was scheduled earlier and I felt we should not allow our agenda to be determined by priorities of others.
We do not allow our policy to be sidetracked by the preferences of others. Our conduct throughout the incident reflects our desire for peace with India. Our government acted in accordance with law and humanitarian norms. During the Indian plane’s stay in Pakistan the safety of the passengers and crew was our primary concern. The Indian External Affairs Minister expressed gratitude for our cooperation.
But then the Indian government decided to build up artificial tension, illustrating once again its animus and hostility to Pakistan. That has served to make evident the rationale of Paksitan’s nuclear programme. Nuclear deterrence is indispensable for the defence and security of our country. General Pervez Musharraf’s government is determined to maintain a robust and credibile deterrent capability.
My primary purpose in speaking on CTBT is solely to promote a more objective evaluation of how signing or not signing the treaty may impinge on Pakistan’s interests. To that end, it is necessary to understand what this treaty is - and what it is not. I shall therefore recapitulate its important provisions and offer an analysis of their implications. In the end I shall deal with the doubts and misapprehensions that have been expressed by commentators and columnists.
At the same time, we recognize that nuclear weapons engage the legitimate interests of human kind. Pakistan has always joined its voice in building a global consensus in favour of nuclear restraints. Now, as a declared nuclear weapon state,
At a time when Pakistan has been the target of vicious Indian propaganda, motivated by a preconceived design to falsely implicate Pakistan in the Indian plane’s hijacking incident, it may seem odd to speak about the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. But this meeting was scheduled earlier and I felt we should not allow our agenda to be determined by priorities of others.
We do not allow our policy to be sidetracked by the preferences of others. Our conduct throughout the incident reflects our desire for peace with India. Our government acted in accordance with law and humanitarian norms. During the Indian plane’s stay in Pakistan the safety of the passengers and crew was our primary concern. The Indian External Affairs Minister expressed gratitude for our cooperation.
But then the Indian government decided to build up artificial tension, illustrating once again its animus and hostility to Pakistan. That has served to make evident the rationale of Paksitan’s nuclear programme. Nuclear deterrence is indispensable for the defence and security of our country. General Pervez Musharraf’s government is determined to maintain a robust and credibile deterrent capability.
My primary purpose in speaking on CTBT is solely to promote a more objective evaluation of how signing or not signing the treaty may impinge on Pakistan’s interests. To that end, it is necessary to understand what this treaty is - and what it is not. I shall therefore recapitulate its important provisions and offer an analysis of their implications. In the end I shall deal with the doubts and misapprehensions that have been expressed by commentators and columnists.
At the same time, we recognize that nuclear weapons engage the legitimate interests of human kind. Pakistan has always joined its voice in building a global consensus in favour of nuclear restraints. Now, as a declared nuclear weapon state,