STORY: U.S. supply of cluster bombs to Ukraine "irresponsible," "escalatory": former Pakistani defense minister
DATELINE: July 25, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:47
LOCATION: Islamabad
CATEGORY: POLITICS/MILITARY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of cluster bombs
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NAEEM KHALID LODHI, Former defense minister of Pakistan
3. various of cluster bombs
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NAEEM KHALID LODHI, Former defense minister of Pakistan
5. various of cluster bombs
 
STORYLINE:
 
A former defense minister of Pakistan has slammed the U.S. decision to supply Ukraine with cluster bombs, saying it is an escalatory and very irresponsible act.
 
The cluster bombs will be a part of a new 800 million-U.S.-dollar military assistance package, which also includes armored vehicles and anti-armor weapons.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NAEEM KHALID LODHI, Former defense minister of Pakistan
"I think it goes without saying that it is an irresponsible act, because it is against the UN Convention on Cluster Munitions. It is an escalatory act, it is a very irresponsible act, it is against UN conventions, even it is against the desire of their own NATO allies. They once said that Russians are using it, and they gave a very strong statement that this is not to be used, and if they are using it, they are doing something wrong. So, these are double standards, that on one side you say that it should not be used, the other side you want to use it yourself. So I would say that it is irresponsible and it is escalatory in nature."
 
Lodhi also noted the possible humanitarian consequences of using cluster bombs.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NAEEM KHALID LODHI, Former defense minister of Pakistan
"Such ammunition, instead of killing, maims people. It takes away their limbs and makes them ineffective in life. So all conventions they are against it. So actually what happens is whenever these mutations are used, the cluster bombs, the cluster mines, the cluster bomblets or whatever form, they actually create very deep scars on their society. Because you will find many people who are without a leg or without an arm and disabled at site. It's difficult to look at the plight."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Islamabad.
(XHTV)