100 million would die in event of Indo-Pak nuke war: US Air Force

100 m would die in event of Indo-Pak nuke war: US Air Force
TV Parasuram (PTI)
Washington, May 29

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Estimating the maximum number of casualties so far, in the event of a nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan, a US Air Force report has said about 100 million people in the region would die.
A Pentagon report had earlier said that nine to 12 million people in the subcontinent would die and two to seven million suffer injuries, if a nuclear war breaks out between the two south Asian countries.

The study, reported by NBC-TV, also said that around 1,000 al-Qaeda combatants are believed to be in the tribal areas of Pakistan, including probably Osama bin Laden himself, but Pakistani troops, distracted by the confrontation with India, have practically stopped helping the Americans, who are on a look-out for Taliban and al-Qaeda men.

Meanwhile, Pentagon spokeswoman and Assistant Secretary of Defence Victoria Clarke said the United States is working hard with both countries, to try to ease and de-escalate the conflict.

"Any time you have two nations who continue to have the problems they are having, two nuclear-armed nations, we of course, have great concern", she said.

She said that Defence Secretary Rumsfeld and India's Defence Minister George Fernandes were "trading phone calls late last week."

The United States Government is working at all levels -- the President on down, including the talks that Undersecretary for Policy Doug Feith had last week (with the Indian Defence delegation) "to do what we can to help de-escalate the conflict."

When asked that a recent report in the Washington Post stated that Musharraf was still harouring terrorism and he has not lived up to his January 12 statement, Clarke said "We are encouraging Pakistan to get involved (in the war against terrorism)".

"The war on terrorism is obviously a priority for us, a priority for the world. We understand what is going on there. We are doing our best with both countries to try to bring the level of tensions down", she said.

Regarding Pakistan's help against the Al-Qaeda and Taliban in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas, she said, "it has been enormous."

"If the attention of the Pakistani troops cannot be focused there because they are focused elsewhere (along the Indian border), it is a concern", she said.

On the reported presence of Al-Qaedaand Taliban in Pakistan, she said that given the porous nature of the border around the country, it is likely there are Al-Qaeda and Taliban in lots of different places.

If we knew exactly where some of these people were, then we probably would have them, she said.

Clarke said it is clear that trying to pevent the Al-Qaeda and the Taliban from having any kind of real influence in Pakistan is a concern for Musharraf as well.

She said "Pakistan has been enormously, enormously helpful in the effort (against the Al-Qaeda and Taliban in the tribal areas)".

"We remain hopeful that they can and will stay committed to that effort."

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