UNITED NATIONS, May 30: Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram on Wednesday defended Pakistan’s decision not to promise “no first nuclear strike” in case of an attack by India saying that it would give India a “license to kill” Pakistanis.
Addressing a news conference Akram said: “So long as the use of force is outlawed, we will accept ‘no first use of nuclear weapons’ also. India should not have the license to kill with the use of conventional weapons while our hands are tied.
Calling upon the United Nations Security Council to actively intervene in resolving the Kashmir dispute between the two countries, Akram said Pakistan would not attack India unless it was first attacked, it had never subscribed to the doctrine of “no first use” of nuclear arms.
As India’s armed forces are larger than Pakistan’s, anyone asking Pakistan to rule out first-strike of nuclear weapons would be “asking us in fact to accept the use of conventional force for India,” he said.
Asked about the Pakistan’s recent missile tests, he said that in the last five months, India had tested five missiles of varying ranges. “Nobody objected,” he said. “Why is it different when Pakistan tests?”
On the question of international monitors, along the line of control, Akram pointed out that Pakistan was ready to accept 300 international monitors along the LoC as proposed by a friendly country adding “we don’t even mind an impartial mechanism to be formed.”
He pointed out that Pakistan had proposed strengthening of the United Nations monitors along the LoC, which number 35 now, but India had rejected that outright.
Saying that India was “unable to crush freedom struggle” in Kashmir Akram said, India has resorted to the colonial powers line of last resort - which is to depict the freedom struggle as a struggle of terrorist.” This, he said, was contrary to international law.
It is contrary to the facts because it is a struggle by a people which arose from the promise of self-determination to them in the resolution of the Security Council.
