PAKISTAN UNLIKELY TO TRANSFER NUCLEAR ARMS TO IRAN

ISRAEL LINE
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1998

  Prof. Shai Feldman, Director of Tel Aviv University's Jaffa Center for
strategic research, said that it is improbable that Pakistan will transfer
sensitive nuclear materials or technology to Iran or any Arab state,
HA'ARETZ reported.
  Feldman cited three reasons for Pakistan to avoid transferring its nuclear
arms.  First, he claims that such an action would tighten military ties
between Israel and India, worsening Pakistan's geopolitical status.
Pakistan would also suffer a backlash from the United States, which has
drawn a red line concerning nuclear proliferation.  Feldman claims that the
American response to the transfer of nuclear technology would be far more
severe than its reaction to the recent Pakistani nuclear tests.  Last,
Pakistan is interested in preserving its nuclear monopoly among Islamic
countries.