DATE=5/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232915
TITLE=PAK NUKE TEST (L)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SAYS HIS COUNTRY HAS 
CONDUCTED FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS IN RESPONSE TO THE SAME NUMBER OF 
NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA.  VOA ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH 
BUEL REPORTS.

TEXT:  IN A NATIONALLY TELEVISED ADDRESS PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER 
NAWAZ SHARIF ANNOUNCED PAKISTAN HAS SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT FIVE
NUCLEAR TESTS.

THE PRIME MINISTER SAYS PAKISTAN HAS NOW BECOME A NUCLEAR POWER.

MR. SHARIF CALLED THE TESTS THE RESULT OF A "STRONG AND BOLD 
DECISION."

THE TESTS WERE CARRIED OUT IN THE CHAGAI REGION OF PAKISTAN'S 
SOUTHWESTERN BALUCHISTAN PROVINCE.

IN ADDITION TO ITS NUCLEAR TESTS PAKISTAN HAS DEPLOYED ITS 
INTERMEDIATE RANGE GHAURI MISSILE.

THE GHAURI MISSILE IS CAPABLE OF TRAVELING 15-HUNDRED KILOMETERS 
AND CARRYING A PAYLOAD OF 700-KILOGRAMS.

OFFICIALS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES TRIED TO 
PERSUADE PAKISTAN  NOT TO TEST A NUCLEAR DEVICE. 

PRIME MINISTER SHARIF HAS FACED INTENSE DOMESTIC PRESSURE TO 
RESPOND TO INDIA'S FIVE NUCLEAR TESTS.  

THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES WILL SLAP ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS ON PAKISTAN FOR CONDUCTING THE TESTS.

SUCH SANCTIONS COULD HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON PAKISTAN'S 
ECONOMY.

IN HIS TELEVISED ADDRESS PRIME MINISTER SHARIF TOLD PAKISTANIS 
HARD TIMES ARE AHEAD BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.

WESTERN NATIONS ARE CONCERNED PAKISTAN AND INDIA'S TESTS COULD 
SPARK A NUCLEAR WEAPONS RACE IN SOUTH ASIA.  

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE TESTS CAME HOURS AFTER PAKISTAN WARNED 
INDIA AGAINST ANY ATTACK ON ITS NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS.

A FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT SAYS SUCH AN ATTACK WILL WARRANT A 
"SWIFT AND MASSIVE RETALIATION WITH UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES."

THE STATEMENT SAYS ISLAMABAD HAS RECEIVED "CREDIBLE INFORMATION" 
OF A POSSIBLE ATTACK BY INDIA ON ITS NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS.

THE STATEMENT SAYS THE INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO ISLAMABAD WAS 
SUMMONED TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY AND WARNED AGAINST ANY SUCH 
ATTACKS. 

THE STATEMENT SAYS IMMEDIATE MESSAGES WERE TRANSMITTED TO THE 
UNITED STATES AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY 
COUNCIL.

U-S OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED PAKISTAN AND INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS 
COULD INFLAME TENSIONS IN SOUTH ASIA.

PAKISTAN AND INDIA HAVE FOUGHT THREE WARS SINCE INDEPENDENCE FROM
BRITAIN IN 1947.   (SIGNED)

NEB/MB/LTD/KL

28-May-98 10:20 AM EDT (1420 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.