NEW DELHI: India has offered to sign a treaty with Pakistan, similar to the strategic arms limitation treaty entered into between the United States and the Soviet Union, in an effort to “allay” Pakistan’s fears following India’s nuclear blast of May 18. The offer was made yesterday [June 10] by Mr P.N. Haksar, former Principal Private Secretary to Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi and a member of the Indian Atomic Energy Commission... .

Mr Haksar asked Pakistan to “choose the path of negotiation” instead of “over-reacting” to the Indian nuclear experiment. “Still supposing the explosion gave Pakistan a genuine shock, it is a matter to be sorted out at the negotiation table and not something about which one should try to spread panic around the world,” he thought. Commenting on the tours of some Pakistani Ministers to various world capitals to enlist support against India’s atomic blast, Mr Haksar claimed that India had no objection if Pakistan wanted support from any world Power, but, he insisted, the “best assurance can be had only from India, and no other country”. Mr Haksar repeated that India was “willing to sign a non-aggression pact” with Pakistan. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, June 12th, 2024