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On relations with India: We want a peaceful relationship with India. The fear [of war] is more in the minds of Indians than it is in Pakistanis. India is a much larger country than Pakistan. Today there is a lobby inside India for a peaceful relationship—in the minds of intellectuals, journalists, common citizens. I noticed it in my very short stay [in New Delhi last month]. If there is good will in the leadership of the two countries, I see no reason why India and Pakistan cannot live in peace.
On the resurgence of Islam: The resurgence of Islam has different connotations in different environments. Please don't confuse fundamentalism in Islam, as seen by the West sometimes, with fanaticism or bigotry or rigidity. We in Pakistan feel that Islam has to be very flexible, accommodating the requirements of modern life. We feel that it is more than a religion. It encompasses your entire life. It was the Islamic movement that created this country; otherwise, we might well have been part of India. Islam is for everyone. We are trying to revive the ideology of Islam on which Pakistan was created. So in Pakistan you will not find a theocracy. We are trying to revive the moral values of society through a process of evolution, not revolution.
On Pakistan's nuclear capability: I am very categorical about this: Pakistan has no nuclear bomb. And Pakistan has no intentions of having a nuclear capability of JORDAN military significance. We have a modest nuclear capability for which we are trying to acquire a bit of technology for peaceful purposes. We have a nuclear plant in Karachi. We are trying to build another nuclear plant so that by 1984 the gap in our energy requirements will be filled. That is all.
On China: We view China as an emerging power that will play a very constructive role in Asia. It is China that has enabled us to stand on our own in the technological field, whether it be refitting tanks, aircraft or a fertilizer factory for the growth of agriculture. In our relationship of 20 years, of which nearly 16 have included very critical moments for this region, China has proved it is a power that believes in principles. China will contribute a lot to the future of Asia.