Posted on 03/08/2006 9:43:46 AM PST by milestogo
Tue Mar 7, 12:01 AM ET
Pakistan would oppose any military action taken by its ally the United States against Iran over its disputed nuclear program, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said.
"Pakistan's view is that there should not be any military intervention and we would certainly not be party to any such action," Aziz told BBC television late Monday during a visit to London.
The BBC had asked him about Washington's refusal to rule out military action against Iran's nuclear program which US and European diplomats fear may be used for nuclear weapons. Iran insists it is peaceful.
He said Pakistan has always supported a diplomatic solution to the crisis over Iran's uranium enrichment program, especially through the forum of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
"We think Iran should not proliferate. We're against production of any nuclear weapons in the region. We think Iran does have the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under IAEA safeguards and guidelines," he said.
"We also feel negotiation is the way to go and we oppose any armed conflict in the region to settle the matter," he said.
"We remain cautiously optimistic that they (negotiations) will produce results," he said.
Unlike Iran, Pakistan was entitled to build a nuclear bomb once India set off such a weapon in 1974, he said.
"Once this happened ... we had to create a minimal credible deterrence to ensure peace in south Asia. In Iran's case, we believe this is not necessary," he said.
Aziz was in London for a two-day "Asia 2015: Promoting Growth, Ending Poverty" meeting, which gathered some 150 delegates from the worlds of politics, business and civil society.
So what?
Don't worry, you won't be.
Like, we are supposed to care one whit what the Pakis think? Wasn't their own Nuclear scientist seeing to it that goods were sent out of his country against UN rules?
That is because their "Father of Nuclear Power" illegally gave them the technology for cash. Oh, the sordid web that keeps being weaved. Sometimes you just want to throw a brick at it. At least they waited until Bush left. How will the spin doctors spin this?
The pakis care, coz they know their nuke program is next.
The UN just confirmed their irrelevance a little while ago when Russia just stated they won't support sanctions or military action.
The fact that Pakistan and Iran share a border should be one reason we care.
Of course they're opposed. We just struck a nuke deal with their neighbor, India. We also indicated that there would be no deal for them. They are ticked-off. Don't look for any support until we give them something.
Pakistan should be thanking its lucky stars we didn't turn that country into nuclear slag in September 2001. THEY owe US, big time, and that debt will be a long long time in being paid off.
But all of these so called allies or half allies are like little children who have discovered that when they act up they are given something to keep them quiet. This goes for the Axis of Evil countries too. Act up and we will appease you in some way. It's time to get tough. Spare the rod and spoil the child.
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