KARACHI: Refusal to comment on his reported New Delhi statement that he did not think Pakistan would be so “stupid” as to enter into an alliance with China, and the defence of military pacts were the hottest issues raised during Mr Henry Alfred Kissinger’s 60-minute meeting with Press correspondents at the State Guest House here yesterday — his first day in Pakistan.

One of the first questions put to the Harvard professor was whether he made the statement or not. He replied: “It was widely reported; so let the statement stand at that.” After a moment’s pause, he added: “I don’t want to get into a discussion on how correctly or incorrectly I was reported.”

Then he said he was willing to give his views on the “extremely hypothetical” question of an alliance between Pakistan and China. “There is no evidence that Pakistan is contemplating an alliance with China. I do believe that military alliance with China is inconsistent with military alliance with USA. It cannot be in the interest of either India or Pakistan to bring outside Communists into the deep tensions that exist in the Subcontinent.”

What if Pakistan tries to improve relations with China? “That is entirely a matter between the Governments of Pakistan and China,” he said.

FOOTNOTE: Shortly after the conclusion of the news conference, a “clarification” was sent on behalf of Mr Kissinger which stated: “I do not remember having used the word ‘stupid’. It would be bad taste to hide now behind a charge of having been misquoted.”