LAHORE: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said here today [May 19] that Pakistan will never surrender to any nuclear blackmail by India and will move in all fields to meet the threat posed by the explosion of a nuclear device by it. “In concrete terms, we will not compromise the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Nor will we accept India’s hegemony or domination over the Sub-continent,” he added.

Addressing a Press conference … at the Go­v­er­nor’s House, Mr Bhutto said his Gov­e­r­nment was taking a number of steps to secure political insurance against India’s use of the nuclear threat. Among other things, the Gov­e­r­nment was formally approaching the Sec­retary-General of the United Nations and was sending the Foreign Secretary … to China, France and Britain to explain our position. …

He said he will personally take up the question with the Soviet leaders during his coming visit to the USSR. Similarly, he has directed the Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs … to raise the issue at the coming CENTO meeting in Washington. … Mr Bhutto said he was also addressing letters to the Heads of State and Governments of all the nuclear Powers.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2024