Word: zia
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Gandhi and Zia talk peace
There were no national anthems, no 21-gun salutes. Nonetheless, last week as Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi strode onto the tarmac at New Delhi airport to greet Pakistani President Mohammed Zia ul-Haq last week, the occasion was momentous. Since the partitioning of Pakistan from India 35 years ago, relations between the Asian subcontinent's two major powers have been soured by three wars, border clashes and a legacy of bitterness and suspicion. Remarked a senior Indian official: "This is a historic moment...
Especially momentous was the subject of the meeting. After the airport welcome, Zia and Gandhi sat down in Rashtrapati Bhavan, the palatial presidential home, to talk about patching up their longstanding differences. They agreed to have their foreign ministers meet next month to plan a joint commission that would promote trade, cultural exchange, communications and travel between the two countries. The commission would also try to accelerate the 14-month-old talks, being held at and below the foreign ministers' level, on the no-war pact that Pakistan has proposed. While denying aggressive intentions, the two countries...
...different forms the offer has been repeated. Then we signed the Simla Agreement [a 1972 accord that calls for the two countries to negotiate their differences], but they did not want the words no war used. Now suddenly, along with the purchase of the F16, President Zia puts in this little bonbon about a no-war pact. I have suggested that we have a treaty of cooperation, friendship and peace, in which a no-war declaration would, of course, be included. And I have announced publicly that pact or no pact, India will not attack...
...purpose of strengthening Pakistan's northern border with Soviet-controlled Afghanistan, the deal includes the aircraft that would enhance delivery capability for the atomic bomb that the Pakistanis are currently developing. Beyond simply antagonizing Pakistan's nuclear neighbor, India, the deal would make it that much easier for General Zia to lend nuclear weapons to some of his close Arab allies, like Iraq, if they were in a pinch...