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| India-Pakistan |
| Islamabad refuses to accept 'no first strike' doctrine |
| 2002-05-31 |
| Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram on Wednesday defended Pakistan's decision not to promise "no first nuclear strike" in case of an attack by India saying that it would give India a "license to kill" Pakistanis. Addressing a news conference Akram said: "So long as the use of force is outlawed, we will accept 'no first use of nuclear weapons' also. India should not have the license to kill with the use of conventional weapons while our hands are tied. Calling upon the United Nations Security Council to actively intervene in resolving the Kashmir dispute between the two countries, Akram said Pakistan would not attack India unless it was first attacked, it had never subscribed to the doctrine of "no first use" of nuclear arms. To a certain distorted way of thinking, there's no deterrence to nuclear weapons if you promise not to be the first to use them. All the other side has to do is refrain from using theirs while they're whipping you conventionally. On the other hand, if they can whip you both ways, probably the best deterrence is to shut the hell up and stay out of trouble, but that's not an option if you're into turbans. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |