March, 28 2005	Monday	17 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, March 27: Information Minister Sheikh Rashid on Sunday dismissed assertions that Pakistan was purchasing F-16s as a result of some compromise on its nuclear programme. Answering a question at a news conference here, he said Pakistan was a nuclear power and it could not compromise on its nuclear capability. The US willingness to sell the latest version of the fighter jets reflected the success of the policies being pursued by President Musharraf, the minister said, adding that the world now believed the president was leading the country to enlightened moderation.

He said so far various countries had the perception as if extremists had got a free hand in Pakistan. The US gesture at a time when other countries were rather reluctant to meet the genuine defence requirements of Pakistan would change the perception, he argued.

Sheikh Rashid said although India had expressed its concern on the US-Pakistan deal, it would not press the matter any more.

He said President Musharraf was aware of the problems confronting the salaried classes and it was for this reason that he planned to raise their salaries. At the same time, he said, the president had directed the federal and the provincial governments to have a check on prices.

About the MMA’s plan to hold a march in Rawalpindi, the minister said the religious alliance would not go beyond Faizabad.

This point, he said, could be crossed only following a nod from the powers that be, and so far there was no such signal.

Answering a question, the minister said Pakistan had two major disputes with India: one on Kashmir and the other on water. He hoped that they would be settled.

As for the president’s visit to India, he said it would not be confined to watching cricket. The president, Sheikh Rashid said, would make use of every single minute of his time. The minister said the Kashmiri leadership was on board and reports that Syed Ali Geelani had a different view carried little weight. He told a questioner that the Balochistan problem would be solved very soon and the writ of the government would be restored in the troubled province.