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We are like a cook waiting for orders, says A Q Khan

A number of senior retired military generals in Pakistan, including a former army chief, have demanded that the Pakistani government carry out nuclear tests immediately.

Commenting on the nuclear tests conducted by India yesterday, the army generals said, ''The Pakistani position with regard to development of nuclear weaponry has become weak, and we should not succumb any more to the US pressure in this regard.''

Pakistani army chief General Jehangir Karamat, however, said India's nuclear tests yesterday came as no surprise. In this context, he assured the nation that the Pakistani army will not disappoint the nation if called upon to provide the required capability for nuclear testing.

General Jehangir said the Indian tests should not surprise anyone, because ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power it had been issuing statements that it would reactivate India's nuclear programme.

He said India's exploding of the nuclear device in 1974 did not evoke any reaction from the world community. ''However, whenever we took even a little step towards research and development, it was met with severe restrictions and sanctions.'' He refused to reply to any further questions from journalists in this regard, saying, ''I should not say anything about it because it is the job of the government''.

Pakistan's foremost nuclear scientist, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, said after the latest nuclear tests by India, it was time for the Pakistani government to take a decision.

Talking to journalists last night, Dr Khan said, ''We are like a cook waiting for orders.'' He said it is a political decision to be taken by the government. He described yesterday's Indian nuclear tests as result of a well-planned move by India, adding that, ''We have been saying for a long time that they will explode a thermonuclear device''.

Dr Khan, who was scheduled to leave for a trip to the Gulf states in connection with a fund-raising mission for educational institutions in Pakistan, has been requested to postpone his visit. The government has provided Dr Khan with extra security.

Meanwhile, Daily Nawai, while quoting important nuclear scientists in Pakistan, said Pakistan possessed nuclear bombs which can be assembled within a week. The components of the bombs have been kept at different places, the report said.

UNI

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