Be good and F-16s may just fly in, Pak told

WASHINGTON, May 14: Pakistan can reap a bonanza in the form of resumed arms supply from the United States -- including return of its 28 sequ...

WASHINGTON, May 14: Pakistan can reap a bonanza in the form of resumed arms supply from the United States 8212; including return of its 28 sequestered F-16 planes 8212; if it agrees not to proceed with nuclear testing in retaliation for the Indian tests, Congressional leaders and administration officials indicated on Wednesday.

The proposal to repeal the so-called Pressler Amendment 8212; the law which froze the planes and banned arms supply to censure Islamabad for going covertly nuclear 8212; was first floated in Congress today by former CIA director James Woolsley at a Senate hearing today.

Lawmakers immediately scrambled to see if they could gather support for the move even as a powerful Presidential delegation headed by Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott headed for Islamabad on Wednesday night to dissuade Pakistan from testing. Washington thinks the Pakistan tests could take place any day now, perhaps as early as Sunday.

The Talbott mission has among its ranks General Anthony Zinni, who heads the USCentral Command CincCom, the defence system under which Pakistan falls. Asked why a heavyweight general was going on a diplomatic mission and what kind of signal it would send to India, a White House official said Gen Zinni 8220;knows the area very well, knows the people very well.8221; Assistant Secretary for South Asia Rick Inderfurth is also in the team.

The Talbott mission, following up President Clinton8217;s phone talk with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, will try and persuade Islamabad to forgo what will essentially be retaliatory tests. Sharif gave no assurances to Clinton during their talk, but listened to him attentively and agreed to meet the American team, US officials said.

8220;We would certainly hope that Pakistan would not test in its own self-interest. If they refrain, I think it would gain high moral ground in the world, and I think it would redound to its benefit,8221; National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said.

But other analysts gave little chance for goodies-for-no test proposal, sayingpublic emotion in Pakistan was too hot to handle. Even as he proposed repealing the Pressler Amendment, former CIA chief Woolsley said it was very unlikely to succeed 8220;but it8217;s worth a good college try.8221;

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Other officials indicated the Talbott mission will try the carrot and stick approach, using political persuasion, diplomatic tact and economic pressure to stop any test. The administration has made it clear that if Pakistan tests, it will also be subjected to the same sanctions that have been imposed on India.