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India says Pak is spreading canards about attack on N-plants

India today described as an ''utterly absurd and malicious'' the allegation that it was preparing to attack Pakistan's nuclear facilities.

This was conveyed to Pakistan Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed by India's high commissioner in Islamabad Satish Chandra Lambah.

Satish Chandra Lambah was called by Khan in the early hours of Thursday to be told that India intended to attack Pakistan's nuclear facilities.

In a statement, an external affairs ministry spokesman said Pakistan also sought to spread this canard in the UN when its permanent representative called on the secretary-general and some important world leaders.

He said India stood committed to uphold its treaty obligations and agreements, including the India-Pakistan agreement on the prohibition of attack against nuclear installations and facilities signed in 1988.

The spokesman said the Pakistani action was a ''vicious propaganda'' and part of a ''more nefarious design.''

He said there was no intention on ''our part to heighten tension between India and Pakistan. We are confident that all concerned will reject these crude manifestations of the traditional mindset of hostility against India.''

The military attaches of various countries were called to the army headquarters in New Delhi today and were told how Pakistan was carrying out a disinformation campaign about India trying to attack Pakistan.

The military attaches were told that there was no move on the Indian side for any military action, and that Pakistan was talking about war as an excuse for its nuclear explosions.

The Pakistani military attache was not invited to this briefing.

UNI

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