Protest letter against the Pakistan nuclear test (May 29, 1998)

May 29, 1998

His Excellency Muhammad Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

His Excellency Miss Durray Shahwar Kureshi
Charg'e d'Affaires of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Japan

Letter of Protest

With the international community still loudly condemning India's repeated tests, and despite communication from the city of Hiroshima and numerous concerned parties both in and out of Pakistan urging you to show restraint, you proceeded unilaterally with your own underground nuclear test. That test amounted to a violent act of disdain for the voices in the international community calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and in the name of Hiroshima, I hereby strongly protest.

The actions of Pakistan and India in attempting to achieve national security through nuclear weapons heightens tensions in Southwest Asia, generates momentum toward a nuclear arms race, and runs the risk of destroying the NPT system. I urge you in the strongest possible terms to heed international public opinion overwhelmingly in favor nuclear abolition, halt all nuclear testing immediately, abandon your policy of brandishing nuclear weapons to make a show of strength, and make genuine efforts to build trust and a cooperative relationship with India.

Takashi Hiraoka
Mayor of Hiroshima