[Excerpt: He reiterated that Pakistan would never allow a third country to use its soil against Iran, saying that Islamabad had good relations with Tehran. “They (centrifuge parts) are being sent only for matching the contamination level with Iran’s centrifuges in the custody of the IAEA.”]
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_30-3-2005_pg1_1 Wednesday 30 March 2005 Centrifuges being sent to IAEA at Iran’s request, says Kasuri Staff Report KARACHI: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said on Tuesday that “old and useless parts of outdated centrifuges” were being sent to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for inspection following a request from Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog and that this would not affect Pakistan’s nuclear programme. “We hope the controversy will end after their inspection. Pakistan wants to be transparent in this controversy,” he told reporters. He reiterated that Pakistan would never allow a third country to use its soil against Iran, saying that Islamabad had good relations with Tehran. “They (centrifuge parts) are being sent only for matching the contamination level with Iran’s centrifuges in the custody of the IAEA.” “At no point will those currently useless centrifuge components be out of our custody. The analysis will be carried out in the presence of our experts and the entire results will be shared.” The parts will be brought back to Pakistan,” Kasuri said. He said Pakistan was committed to a peace process with India and the acquisition of F-16 fighters from the US would not harm a thaw in relations. “I am surprised by the Indian reaction,” Kasuri said, referring to Indian protests over a US decision to sell Pakistan F-16s. “It will not change the overall balance of power. This is not at all in discord with the emerging thaw in relations with India,” he said. Kasuri said India was also in the process of acquiring Phalcons from Israel, and its forces were “far, far ahead of Pakistan.” “Pakistan faces a formidable challenge in terms of approaching conventional balance vis-à-vis India,” he said. Kasuri rejected the opposition’s claim that Pakistan had compromised its nuclear capability to acquire the F-16s. “The F-16 offer is unconditional and the missile and nuclear capability is there to stay”. He claimed that Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programmes were self-sufficient and indigenous, adding that there was a command and control system in place to secure them. Kasuri rejected that the F-18s were more advanced aircraft than the ones given to Pakistan. He said there were four possible sources of funds to purchase F-16s out of the $3 billion aid package. He said Pakistan and India had been involved in the talks to resolve the Kashmir issue. “Compared to 2002 when Indian troops were amassed on Pakistan’s border, relations between the two are far better.” Kasuri said that the Kashmir bus passengers would be issued special permits instead of visas and passports. He said that President Musharraf and Indian leaders would hold “serious” talks during his Delhi visit. enditem ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Give underprivileged students the materials they need to learn. Bring education to life by funding a specific classroom project. http://us.click.yahoo.com/FHLuJD/_WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/