India rejects Pakistan’s offer to dismantle weapons

INDIA Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told parliament yesterday that India would not reciprocate on Pakistan’s offer to dismantle nuclear weapons.

Vajpayee, addressing a debate about the fresh peace overtures between the longtime South Asian rivals, said Pakistan’s only target for nuclear weapons would be India, but India had other countries of concern.

“We don’t accept Pakistan’s proposal ... as Pakistan’s nuclear program is India-specific,” Vajpayee said. “But we are concerned about other states as well.”