ISLAMABAD, May 16: Pakistan hinted on Saturday that it might go ahead with its option to test a nuclear weapon if the West did not take serious action against India. Foreign minister Gohar Ayub Khan said in an interview that a Pakistani nuclear test was "very close to certain" as Pakistan officials condemned what they saw as half-hearted sanctions against India.In a letter written to leaders of the G-8 summit in Birmingham, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said: "In the face of developments that pose an immediate threat to our security, we cannot expect to remain complacent."Sharif added: "We are once again being asked to exercise restraint at an extremely critical juncture . I trust that you would recognise and be receptive to Pakistan's needs of self-defence."The general feeling prevailing in Islamabad after the departure on Saturday of an American delegation led by US deputy secretary Strobe Talbott was that no headway was made in talks between the two sides.Pakistan foreign secretaryShamshad Ahmed told a press conference here that there was "no question any renunciation of our options." Commenting on the visit of the US team, he said "Our talks with the Americans was detailed. The Americans have gone back with a better understanding."The US mission left here for Birmingham to attend the G-8 meeting. Before its departure, the mission's sources said that it will report to President Clinton regarding their discussions with the Pakistani leadership in Islamabad.Ahmad told journalists that Pakistan would react to the Indian tests "not in haste but with patience". He said that Pakistan would not act "with the same madness that the Indians had done", but went on to add "we are a democratic country." When asked how much time Pakistan would take to decide its options, Ahmad replied "when you are dealing with vital national security, there are not time limits".The Pakistan foreign secretary said "We are now being asked to put Pakistan's national security in jeopardy by denouncing thenuclear option.'' The Pakistan foreign secretary said: ``We are now being asked to put Pakistan's national security in jeopardy by denouncing the nuclear option.'' He added that Pakistan had been told that it would acquire moral high ground by giving up the nuclear option. ``Can we also ask the world community to take the high moral ground by eliminating double-speak, discrimination and selectivity?'' Ahmad said, adding ``Pakistan's security has been directly threatened. We will not submit to brow-beating.'' Meanwhile, a six-member special cabinet committee set up by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last Thursday to consult politicians in the wake of Indian nuclear blasts, will submit its report to him within four days.
