Don’t Bomb Iran

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060307/wl_sthasia_afp/irannuclearpoliti
cspakistan_060307050156

Pakistan opposed to any military action against Iran over nuclear
program

Tue Mar 7, 12:01 AM ET

LONDON (AFP) - 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.
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“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.