960417

Clinton govt notifies

congress on arms

shipments to Pakistan

WASHINGTON: The Clinton Administration has formally notified the Congress it will release $368 million in military equipment to Pakistan after holding up the transfer for months amid controversy over alleged supply of ring magnets to Pakistan.

Pakistan also will get $120 million in cash that it paid for weapons and spare parts that were never manufactured.

In letters to members of Congress, deputy secretary of State Strobe Talbott said President Clinton has decided that delivery of the military equipment that Pakistan paid for in the 1980s "provides the best opportunity to engage Islamabad in our (nuclear) nonproliferation strategy and to improve cooperation with Pakistan on such vital issues as counter- terrorism and counter-narcotics."

Announcing Clinton's decision to proceed, Talbott said the decision "is based on Pakistan's current restraint in its nuclear and missile activities."

The influential Washington Post in a report quoting officials Wednesday said that the Bhutto government had given Washington no new commitments or assurances about its nuclear program. Pakistan has said it will curtail its nuclear program and open it to international inspection only if neighbour and rival India-which tested a nuclear explosive device in 1974- does the same.-APP