- ISLAMABAD: Former foreign secretary Agha Shahi on
Thursday
said that the danger of a nuclear war in South Asia could not be ruled
out once conflict broke out between India and Pakistan. "Even a small
and limited conflict may lead to a full-scale war between the two nuclear
neighbours," Shahi said while speaking at a seminar on "Recent
Tension Between India and Pakistan -- Consequences and Impacts"
organised
by Al-Khair University here.
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- He said President Musharraf had rightly made it clear
that action would be taken against the alleged terrorists under law of
the land only if evidence was given against them. "The handing over
of alleged terrorists to India is not a reasonable demand," he
added.
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- "If Pakistan does not use nuclear weapon in case
of war, the situation will suit India which has an edge over Pakistan in
conventional weapons," he said. Agha Shahi advised the government
to adopt a realistic approach on the Kashmir issue during next few months.
Speaking on the occasion, former information minister Mushahid Hussain
said India tried to take advantage of the international environment against
terrorism after the incident of September 11.
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- "Using the threat of force, India is exploiting
this opportunity to achieve its objectives, including its military
operations
to suppress Kashmiris' indigenous independence movement in held
Kashmir,"
he said, but added that it would not be easy to use a military force
against
Pakistan in view of a highly motivated nation, well-equipped armed forces
and nuclear deterrence.
-
- Mushahid said some steps should be taken to make our
diplomatic team affective in foreign capitals. "The entire nation
is united on the issue of Kashmir and has expressed full support to the
Kashmiris fighting against Indian suppression," he said. In his
address,
eminent defence analyst Lt-Gen (retd) Kamal Mateenuddin said the current
tension between India and Pakistan "is due to belligerent behaviour
of Indian leadership."
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- The September 11 incident gave them the opportunity to
act upon their nefarious designs and harm Pakistan as well as the Kashmir
cause, he said. He said the Indian citizens should realise that war with
Pakistan would cause more damage to India. He also urged the Jihadi
organisations
not to use Pakistani soil and contain their activities to occupied
Kashmir.
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- Kamal hoped that the current situation would be discussed
at Saarc summit in Kathmandu. However, he said: "Pakistan is fully
prepared to meet any Indian aggression. If war does happen, we will be
able to defend our territorial integrity and national pride." Dr Rasul
Buksh Raees, Dr Pervez Iqbal Cheema, Bishop Anthony Lobo and others also
addressed the seminar.
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- The News International, Pakistan
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