India rejects call for nuclear disarmament

India would not mirror Pakistan's offer to dismantle its nuclear weapons but hoped never to use them against its rival, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India's Prime Minister, said yesterday.

He told the parliament that India was "seeking friendship, but [would] be cautious". He added: "I have told the Pakistani leaders that India and Pakistan have to live together. We can change friends, but we can't change neighbours."

Aziz Ahmed Khan, a spokesman for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that Pakistan would get rid of its nuclear arsenal if India did so as well. But Mr Vajpayee said that while Pakistan's only target for nuclear weapons was India, his country had other border worries. "We don't accept Pakistan's proposal ... as Pakistan's nuclear programme is India-specific," he said.

Mr Vajpayee also rejected a call from Pakistan for South Asia to become nuclear-free. "We don't want to use all our resources on buying arms and weapons ... but we have to defend ourselves," he said.

Mr Vajpayee said that he launched the peace initiative with Pakistan two weeks ago during a speech in the disputed Himalayan province of Kashmir, which both countries claim. He said that when the United States overruled the United Nations and attacked Iraq, he determined that India should embark on a new initiative on Kashmir.

Mr Vajpayee, 78, who has said that he would like to mark his place in history by sealing a lasting peace with Pakistan, said: "I felt that small, developing, non-aligned countries have to think about their future."

He said he made the first offer to resume dialogue, which was immediately accepted by Pakistan. Both countries have pledged to restore diplomatic and travel links.