Pakistan in State of Emergency

May 28, 1998

Pakistani President Rafiq Tarar promulgated emergency in the country under article 232 of the with immediate effect. The reason given was the "threat of external aggression".


In the early hours of Friday, May 29, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry
summoned and warned the Indian Ambassador that evidence
of an unprovoked strike by on Pakistani Nuclear Sites had been received.


The Pakistani warned its Indian counterpart of severe retaliation if
a pre-emptive attack was undertaken by . The Foreign Ministry made an official statement saying: "Any
such act would warrant a swift and massive retaliation with unforeseen consequences".


Since wednesday, Pakistani Army Helicopters and F-16 jets have been on
patrol over Kahuta Nuclear Station, near Islamabad.



The has also frozen the withdrawal of foreign exchange from foreign currency accounts until further notice.


Further developments will be reported as details become available.