DATE=6/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234211
TITLE=PAK NUKES (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF HAS VISITED THE SITE
OF THE COUNTRY'S SIX NUCLEAR TESTS.  V-O-A ISLAMABAD 
CORRESPONDENT MEREDITH BUEL REPORTS.

TEXT:  PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF VISITED THE NUCLEAR TEST SITE 
IN PAKISTAN'S RUGGED SOUTHWESTERN BALUCHISTAN PROVINCE.  
PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR TESTS WERE CONDUCTED INSIDE A MOUNTAIN RANGE 
NEAR THE BORDER WITH IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN.  

BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE TEST SITE, PRIME MINISTER SHARIF ADDRESSED
A CHEERING CROWD IN THE NEARBY VILLAGE OF DALBANDIN.  HE SAYS NOW
THAT PAKISTAN AND INDIA ARE NUCLEAR POWERS, THEY MUST FIND A 
SOLUTION TO THE TERRITORIAL DISPUTE OVER KASHMIR.

THE SOUTH ASIAN NEIGHBORS HAVE FOUGHT TWO WARS OVER KASHMIR.

PRIME MINISTER SHARIF SAYS HE IS READY FOR RENEWED DIALOGUE WITH 
INDIA, BUT SUCH TALKS SHOULD BE "SERIOUS AND MEANINGFUL." 

MR. SHARIF SAYS PAKISTAN WAS FORCED TO CONDUCT NUCLEAR TESTS IN 
MAY, AFTER INDIA EXPLODED NUCLEAR DEVICES EARLIER IN THE MONTH.  
PAKISTAN HAS  NOT  REVEALED THE RESULTS OF ITS TESTS AND THE 
GOVERNMENT HAS  NOT  SAID WHEN THOSE DETAILS WILL BE RELEASED. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/MB/LTD/MMK

19-Jun-98 11:21 AM EDT (1521 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.