- (AFP) - Central Intelligence Agency director George Tenet
said the possibility of war breaking out between India and Pakistan had
reached a high point, warning such a conflict could erupt into nuclear
war.
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- "The chance of war between these two nuclear-armed
states is higher that at any point since 1971," Tenet told a Senate
Intelligence committee.
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- "Both India and Pakistan are publicly downplaying
the risks of nuclear conflict in the current crisis. We are deeply
concerned,
however, that a conventional war -- once begun -- could escalate into a
nuclear confrontation."
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- The nuclear-armed neighbors were toiling to develop more
advanced weapons, produce fissile material and increase their nuclear
stockpiles.
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- "We have continuing concerns that both sides may
not be done with nuclear testing," he added.
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- India in January tested a new short-range version of
its intermediate, nuclear-capable Agni missile, prompting angry
condemnation
from Pakistan and raising concerns of a fresh escalation in military
tensions
between the South Asian rivals.
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- India and Pakistan have been readied for war -- with
an estimated 800,000 troops massed on their common border -- since New
Delhi blamed two Pakistan-based militant groups for the deadly December
13 attack on its parliament.
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- The Agni series of missiles, which can be fired from
mobile launchers, was initially developed to provide a credible nuclear
deterrent to China. The Agni II, last tested in January 2001, has a maximum
range of 2,500 kilometers (1,560 miles).
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