Pakistan a Fitter Case Than Iraq for Pre-emptive Strike: Fernandes

April 11, 2003
Press Trust of India, Badmer (Rajasthan)

Ignoring US rejection, Defence Minister George Fernandes on Friday said Pakistan was a fit case than Iraq for a pre-emptive strike.

"I agree with what External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said the other day. Pakistan is a fit case than Iraq for a pre-emptive strike", Fernandes, who was here to inaugurate a poly-clinic, told reporters.

On April 9, Sinha said in Parliament that Pakistan was a "fitter case" for a pre-emptive strike as in the case of Iraq if possession of weapons of mass destruction, export of terrorism and absence of democracy were the criteria for such an action.

Dismissing Sinha's remarks, US Secretary Colin Powell said no direct parallel could be drawn between the situation in Iraq and Pakistan.

Criticising Islamabad for spreading false propaganda about India on the issue of Kashmir, Fernandes said "Pakistan is in the habit of lying."

Asked about the US-led war on Iraq, Fernandes said the war was still on and India has been maintaining that it would provide all possible help to Iraq.