NEW DELHI: Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao asserted last week that India would keep all its nuclear options open in view of Pakistan’s acquisition of nuclear weapons capability.
Rao addressing the biennial Army commander’s conference rejected renewed moves to limit India’s nuclear options in the wake of ‘accentuated’ proliferation of such weapons recently including Pakistan’s acquisition of nuclear capabilities
In view of these developments “any suggestion to restrict India’s nuclear options would be unacceptable and unrealistic” Rao who is preparing for a crucial tour to the United States next month thundered.
Without directly referring to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) the Prime Minister reiterated India’s opposition to the agreement scheduled to come up for extension in 1995 India he In view of these developments “any suggestion to restrict India’s nuclear options would be unacceptable and unrealistic” Rao who is preparing for a crucial tour to the United States next month thundered.
India had always advocated peaceful use of nuclear energy Rao said the Prime Minister’s blunt remarks at the army commanders’ conference is the second straight warming Recently addressing air force commanders he warned of an arms face in the sub-continent if the US Were to go ahead with supply of F-16 fighters to Pakistan These shrill noises comes immediately after the visit of US deputy secretary strobe Talbott. Targeting Pakistan the Prime Minister told the army commands that the low intensity conflict sponsored by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir was a major challenge The Prime Minister gave a past to the army for peacefully defusing the Hazratbal crisis last year.
Referring to allegations on human rights violation by Indian security forces he declared that India’s concern for human rights was second to none in the world. Calling upon interested parties to stop maligning India on this score he sought to lecture Pakistan;” indeed it would amount to an insult to the concept of human rights to distort and misuse it for political exploitation and slanderous propaganda.”
The concerns of an imminent namespace weighing upon him Rao said that India was aiming at an overall national strength which included military as much as economic strength.” A harmonious balance would have to be arrived at between the country’s defence requirements and resources for development.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 22, 1994
