India attacks nuclear 'blackmail'

Jun 18 19:19 UTC 2002

India has denounced remarks by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf that his
country's nuclear capability stopped India attacking during the recent
stand-off over Kashmir. 
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao described his comments as "nuclear
blackmail." 

She said the world should not ignore "such... loose talk and undiluted
hostility towards India." 

President Musharraf told a gathering of scientists and engineers on Monday
that the country's three ballistic missile tests in May had "completed" its
deterrent capability and brought about "strategic balance" in the region. 

He said they were compelled to carry out the controversial missile tests to
show India they were not bluffing. 

Escalation fears 

President Musharraf said that in May 1998 they had carried out nuclear tests
to show India they were not bluffing about their capability. 
"And in May 2002 again we were compelled to show that we do not bluff," he
added. 

He said that India's inability to attack Pakistan or carry out a limited war
demonstrated that Pakistan's conventional and nuclear capability did deter
aggression. 

Pakistan's tests of ballistic missiles came at the height of the crisis with
India and prompted international fears they could escalate the situation. 

The international community also expressed concern about Pakistan's refusal
to endorse a "no first strike" policy. 

Tension between the two countries has eased slightly in the past week after
they came close to war following an attack by militants in the disputed
territory of Kashmir. 

However, India has ruled out any further moves to de-escalate the situation
until Pakistan does more to curb the activities of militants.

response 2 of 3:

Jun 19 01:29 UTC 2002

  re #0:  I'd say there's at least a decent chance that Pakistan is correct
  and that its nuclear deterrant is the major factor preventing an Indian
  invasion.  Of course if the Pakistanis weren't so confident about their
  nuclear deterrant maybe they wouldn't shield the kind of extremist groups
  who last year attacked India's parliament, killing several MPs, and thus
  wouldn't *need* a strong deterrant to prevent an Indian invasion..