Pak will not use N-weapons first against India: Zardari

[Pk_Thunder]

'We want to promote trade ties with India and China': Zardari offers India to sign nuclear-free South Asia pact​

ISHFAQULLAH SHAWL
ISLAMABAD (November 23 2008): President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday offered India to sign nuclear-free South Asia treaty to remove the 'Sword of Damocles' hanging over the entire region saying that Pakistan was against use of nuclear weapons and India should also come forward to sign the treaty.

"I was against the nuclear warfare and don't appreciate it as we don't want to get into that position where we use nuclear weapons," he said in his video conference address to the Leadership Conference organised by Indian daily Hindustan Times at New Delhi.

Zardari said that Pakistan always advocated signing of nuclear-free South Asia treaty to give people of this region a complete peace of mind and sense of security. To a question, Zardari said he was sure that he can get parliament support on the nuclear free pact. He asked the audience whether India too can move forward in this direction?

He said despite differences, Pakistan and India have a great future together and no country should feel threatened from the other. "We have to take Pak-India relationship to a new level, where we can ensure a better future for our people," he added.

"I do not feel threatened by India and India should not feel threatened from us, he said, adding that the two countries should now learn to live with peace and enhance co-operation in trade, economy and other sectors. "We believe in trade not aid. We want to promote trade relations with our strong neighbours China and India," Zardari said.

Both Pakistan and India can together become trading powers like Europe and could also work together on the economic front, he said, adding that the two countries have huge potential in trade and economy and once it was utilised it will benefit both the countries and take them towards new heights. "In spite of our disputes, tussle and tension, we have a great future together," he maintained.

He said he would admit that the two countries have challenges but stressed that there was need for exploring the opportunities that exist between the two countries. Today we have a parliament which is already pre-agreed upon a friendly relationship with India, Zardari added.

Responding to a question regarding terrorism and extremism, he said he himself was a victim of terrorism as he lost his wife (Benazir Bhutto) at the hands of terrorists. "We are facing the challenge of terrorism and extremism and I am sure that with the help of the world we will get rid of this menace," he said.

The President said both Pakistan and India were facing more challenges from inside than outside and if both countries join hands these challenges will prove little. "In every Pakistani there is little Indian and in every Indian there is a little Pakistani," Zardari said.

To a question, Zardari said the bilateral ties remained strained during the cold war, but he hoped that the people of the two countries could now move together for a bright future. To another question regarding his offer to former President Pervez Musharraf to join the government, Zardari said: "It is the parliament which can decide."

In response to another question about the country's current economic situation and his plans to improve it, he said he wished to bring out the real strength of Pakistan. He said Pakistan also wants to explore India's huge market of over one billion people and another 1.2 billion in China, and take advantage of the region and take my country's development forward.

President Zardari said he has brought a message of peace and love from Pakistan, as he was also the bearer of the legacy of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. Bhutto was the architect of the first Pakistan-India treaty - the Simla agreement, he said, adding that he also mentioned the treaty signed between late Benazir Bhutto and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Zardari stressed the need to change the current Pakistan-India mindset which has kept the two nations away from each other. When asked about joint Pakistan-India operation to fight sea-piracy, he said that if he was invited he will definitely join it and do whatever he and his country can.

He urged people of India and Pakistan to initiate a dialogue for resolving the long-standing issue of Kashmir. He said after the dialogue between the two people, the politicians should suggest a solution which can render justice to the people of Kashmir. Asked about the long delay in getting a visa, he proposed adopting a methodology that uses an e-card instead of a passport, to ease the way the two people cross into each other's territory.

He said he looked forward to interacting with US President-elect Barack Obama to discuss entire bilateral issues and not just terrorism. Asked whether he missed his late wife, Zardari said: "spiritually I feel her with me all the time. She is guiding us, not just me, but all the political forces in the country."

 

[Black Stone]

Nuclear-free South Asia? is he for real? or is he saying silly things again?.

 

[Pk_Thunder]

Nuclear-free South Asia? is he for real? or is he saying silly things again?.

I think the Same as u think...I would say,its just a statement,he doesn't really mean it as its an ambitious dream which wont come true!!its a long circle,Pakistan is asking India to initiate,India cant because of the China,China cant because of the US,US cant because of the Russia and so on.

 

[Evil Flare]

Nuclear Free South Asia = Impossible


Pakistan will not give up its weapon until India Did
India will not give up its Weapons Until China Did
China will not give up its Weapons until USA , Russia , UK & France Did ....



So its impossible

 

[Ali.009]

WTF! Nuclear free south asia? Is he going out of this freaking god damn tiny mind. Why nuclear free SOUTH ASIA only?!! Why NOT NUCLEAR FREE WORLD?

Wheres the army! SOS!

 

[khanz]

impossible to be nuke free but i'm glad pak will not use them first

 

[Neo]

Zardari's no-first use offer​

EDITORIAL (November 26 2008): Until and unless the Foreign Office or some other official agency clarifies it, President Zardari's no-first use of nuclear weapons offer to India in his video-conference, hosted by the Hindustan Times on Sunday, may remain a matter of intense national debate.

Some say he was misunderstood, others accuse him of being ill-informed and there is no dearth of cynics also who see in it a scheme to neutralise Pakistan's nuclear deterrent capability. Given these conflicting perceptions, it would be worthwhile revisiting his remarks as reported by the media.

Asked why Pakistan would not accept the doctrine against the first use of nuclear weapons, President Zardari replied, "We will most certainly not use it first. I don't agree... to nuclear weapons...we never get to that position". And urging India to sign a nuclear-free South Asia treaty he said, "We don't want to use (nuclear weapons)" and Pakistan has always advocated signing of nuclear-free South Asia.

He promised he would get this passed by the Pakistani parliament; but could India get that too? he asked, and then wondered - "It is a question I want Dr Manmohan Singh to answer himself". All this was music to Indian ears. Paraphrased, the President's offer of no-first use of nuclear weapons tends to compromise Pakistan's doctrine of maintaining a minimum and credible nuclear force as deterrent against India's preponderance in conventional weaponry.

In eventualities like India capturing a large segment of Pakistani territory or restoring to massive aerial bombings of urban centers and industrial complexes and proceeding to strangulate Pakistan economically, or pushing Pakistan into political destabilisation, or creating large-scale internal subversion, Pakistan would respond by a nuclear strike.

That is the essence of minimum nuclear deterrence and it is the element of surprise and unpredictability about the timing of its use that constitutes what is called deterrence. By committing that it would not be used as retaliation to the above-mentioned eventualities, would amount to taking out or de-fanging Pakistan's nuclear capability.

Over the years India has been keen on securing Pakistan's agreement to forego its first-use doctrine, because if not used first Pakistan's nuclear capability would have no chance to survive India's nuclear attack. In order to develop what is called the second strike capability, Pakistan would be involved in an expansive nuclear arms race with India.

That is not contemplated. Pakistanis believe that nuclear deterrence played a role in defusing various conflict situations, the best known being Dr A.Q. Khan's threat of using nuclear weapons which helped defuse the build-up by India in 1986-87 - the so-called Brasstacks exercise.

As for declaring South Asia a "nuclear-free" area there is no such thing on the table, for both Pakistan and India have peaceful energy-oriented nuclear programmes. But it is Pakistan's three-decade old persistent call to declare South Asia a "nuclear weapon-free" zone that India refuses to respond to. India says its nuclear programme is essentially China-specific.

One would be reluctant to believe that President Zardari made the no-first use offer consciously and deliberately. But if it was a deliberate attempt at giving Pakistan's nuclear programme a new twist then it would deeply disappoint the people of Pakistan, particularly his own party's rank and file. PPP leaders and workers never tire of claiming, correctly, that it was Z.A. Bhutto who lent the military orientation to Pakistan's nuclear programme - at the cost of his life.

But even if the President made the offer in all seriousness, very few in Pakistan think it would be carried through. It would be naïve to suggest that a civilian administration can change the direction of country's nuclear programme. Yet it would be advisable that the government clarifies the President's remarks, silence over it would be taken as proof of the authenticity of his words spoken to an Indian audience.

The President is also reported to have called for an economic union with India. In the past too, India has most passionately called for a common currency for South Asia, at the SAARC summit at Dhaka. The two proposals truly amount to putting the cart before the horse. No economic union or common currency is possible without first creating a common market for goods and services.

India's non-tariff barriers, primarily due to its inward looking economy, are the biggest hurdle in the creation of such a common market. Until and unless India agrees to address this core issue no common market, no economic union and certainly no common currency is possible.

 

[Munir]

I am still waiting to hear first logical and sound statement from Zardari. The way he speaks shows more lack of knowledge, untactical and being hungry for pr. He expects that he will be seen as a hero when shouting these things but the fact is that every time more people are raising eyebows and in fact he is a paria. Everyone knows that Pakistani society is not intrested in PPP nor Zardari. Pakistan needed the transition but everyone now agrees that this is a lot worser...

It is complete unlogical what I see... Bhutto wanted the Pakistani to eat cowfood to get nuke... This crook sells the whole logic of having nukes as a weaker party... PPP was totally freaked against Musharraf for being a beggar and soft to US... The reality is that these PPP people have exact the same position when it comes to the US but next to that have hardly knowledge how to run a nation or economy... I learned one thing in the past... If you do not pay attention you will not notice but if you know the facts you can point direct at people that are just shouting empty statements...

 

[third eye]

Yet another example of unpredictability of Pak leardership on foreign/ def policies.

Another U Turn, Mush said something, this guy another..does he have ' permission' to make such tall remarks ?

Whom does anyone trust ? Is he playing for the gallery ?

 

[Nihat]

Pakistan will not use N-weapons first , too much of International reputation is at stake.

the real danger is , if one of the Nukes falls in the Hands of Islamic extremist groups - We are screwed.

 

[IceCold]

Yet another example of unpredictability of Pak leardership on foreign/ def policies.

Another U Turn, Mush said something, this guy another..does he have ' permission' to make such tall remarks ?

Whom does anyone trust ? Is he playing for the gallery ?

Don't worry official policy is still the same, these kind of statements are of political nature a good will gesture you may call it. In an event of conflict, parliament will make a decision about using nukes and not one person. Besides you shouldn't forget that this is a collation government and not everybody shares his views.

 

[Patriot]

if one of the Nukes falls in the Hands of Islamic extremist groups - We are screwed.

Do you actually believe in that bullshit?Sad that our "***** indian people" extends to those that claim to be educated and then believe all they've heard or read.

 

[shchinese]

have a look at the Chinese version of the "no first use policy":

"China undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones at any time or under any circumstances."

India needs to be very careful.

 

[Neo]

Pakistan will not use N-weapons first , too much of International reputation is at stake.

the real danger is , if one of the Nukes falls in the Hands of Islamic extremist groups - We are screwed.

One thing we've learnt recently is that terrorist can strike everywhere in the Sub-Continent including high profile objects. According to Pentagon Pakistani nukes are safe and well guarded. What about Indian nukes?

 

[Ali.009]

the real danger is , if one of the Nukes falls in the Hands of Islamic extremist groups - We are screwed.

You are screwd already. Indian army and other security agencies are filled with extremist and fascists hindus, many got arrested for train bombings recently. Sooner or later, they'll also reach indian nukes and fire them god knows where.