April 19, 1999
Press Release

PIPFPD expresses concern at the test launch of Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (Agni II by India which was followed by Pakistan's launching of Ghauri II). Launching and allocation of scarce resources for developing and producing missiles directed against each other is neither conducive to lessening tension nor to promoting dialogue for resolving several outstanding issues. As is well known these missiles are tailor-made for carrying Nuclear payload and ushering into a debilitating full scale Nuclear arms race.

We firmly believe that if the momentum generated by "bus" diplomacy is not accompanied by substantive talks and sharp reduction in war rhetoric there is a danger of relapsing into a situation of Nuclear arms race. It should be clear to all democratic and peace loving people of the sub-continent that our economies are in a precarious state and our people confronted with spectre of joblessness and impoverishment. Rather than expend energies into a wasteful and worthless arms race we appeal to the two governments to heed the voice of reason and enlightened self-interest and promote peaceful resolution of all outstanding problems. This alone will allow the people of the two countries to address the problem of social inequality and uneven development that confronts them.

Tapan Kumar Bose
On Behalf of the National Committee of PIPFPD