The United States has not ruled out the possibility of using tactical nuclear bombs in Afghanistan. In reply to a question, as to whether he agrees with Senator Biden’s suggestion that if dropping of 5,000 lb bombs does not yield any results, small tactical nuclear bomb may be used against the Taliban, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that they have a plan and a strategy to use 5,000 lb bombs.
He was further questioned that does it mean that he discounts the possibility of the use of nuclear devices, Rumsfeld responded: ‘We do not discount any possibility’.
During the ‘Late Edition’ programme of the CNN on Sunday, Rumsfeld was repeatedly questioned about the use of nuclear weapons to eliminate the Taliban, he replied after a pause that at the moment there was no need to use such weapons, but possibility of their use cannot be ruled out.
On the occasion Rumsfeld also quoted Gen. Musharraf’s latest statement calling for the limited bombing phase which should finish before Ramazan.
Praising Gen. Musharraf for his help and efforts, Rumsfeld repeated that Muslims have been fighting during Ramazan in Palestine and among themselves, thus our plans cannot be modified.
He was then asked that this means bombardment will continue during Ramazan. Rumsfeld replied. ‘We don’t announce our future plans.’ |
