Pakistan rules out any foreign assistance to safeguard its nuclear assets

By Farzana Shah-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Pakistan

Islamabad, 22 May, (Asiantribune.com): Pakistan Thursday rejected concerns about safety of its nuclear program.

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told a weekly briefing here on Thursday rejected conjectures about the safety of its nuclear assets and said the weapons were under a strong multi-layered security system which left no possibility of the weapons falling in the hands of Taliban. He added that all speculations regarding insecurity of Pakistan’s nuclear assets were baseless and uncalled for and part of a malicious campaign against the country.

Rejecting any foreign assistance to protect nuclear assets, the spokesman said, 'We do not need any such assistance.'

The spokesman said Pakistan’s multi-tiered and robust command and control structure for the protection of nuclear assets was fully operational.

'We are also fully capable of safeguarding our nuclear assets against any kind of threat. This is a sensitive matter which should not be subject to conjectures or miscalculations, reflecting wishful thinking of some self-styled experts on Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities,' the spokesman added.

'Pakistan is committed to maintaining a strong, effective and multi-layered command and control nuclear security system,' he said.

The spokesman said no amount of coercion, direct or indirect, would ever force Pakistan to compromise on its core security interests. He said nuclear deterrence was the corner stone of Pakistan’s security and enjoyed complete national consensus.

The spokesman said Pakistan continued to support international non-proliferation efforts.

'Pakistan is opposed to nuclear arms race but it cannot remain oblivious to increasing conventional asymmetry and unrelenting arms acquisition as well as preferential treatment being given to certain countries of the region,' he said.

Answering a question about willingness of France to supply civil nuclear power plants to Pakistan, the spokesman said the two countries would commence negotiations on a framework agreement in July this year, which will cover all aspects of bilateral relations including cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology. He hoped that the negotiations would conclude by the end of the year.

Commenting on the reports about interference by India and some other countries in Balochistan and the NWFP, the spokesman said, 'Pakistan is in the process of looking into the sources of supply of arms to militants.'

The spokesman said the Foreign Affairs Ministry had established a humanitarian assistance task group to coordinate international relief efforts for IDPs.

He said that under the directive of the Prime Minister, Pakistani missions abroad had opened bank accounts to collect donations and goods from Pakistani diaspora and local people and host governments.

The spokesman said Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan would lead Pakistan’s delegation to the 36th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC to be held in Syrian capital Damascus from 23rd to 25th of this month.

He said the theme of the conference is 'Enhancing Islamic Solidarity.' The Minister of State would address the Council of Foreign Ministers and also hold a number of bilateral meetings with other heads of delegation.

The spokesman said the session would review the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Palestine, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan as well as issues of Muslim minorities and communities all over the world.

It would also review the activities of the OIC in the economic, cultural, social, legal, science and technology, health and environment, administrative and financial fields, the spokesman said.

Abdul Basit said Pakistan is concerned over the acquisition of sophisticated conventional weapons by India, which was disturbing conventional balance between the two countries and hence lowering the nuclear threshold.

The spokesman said such developments disturbed the strategic balance and Pakistan was constrained to adopt necessary safeguards as it deemed fit.

He said nuclear deterrence in the region was an indispensable factor of stability in South Asia.

The spokesman said the international community must play its role in augmenting the strategic stability and refrain from policies that undermine it.

He said the way forward was the conflict resolution and in this regard there was dire need for just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute between Pakistan and India and strict adherence to the Indus Water Treaty.

Commenting on the outcome of the Indian election, the spokesman hoped that the new Indian government would return to the dialogue process soon and this process should be result-oriented.

The spokesman said elections in Occupied Kashmir could not be a substitute to the right of self-determination of Kashmiri people, which was promised to them decades ago. These commitments should be fulfilled, he said.

- Asian Tribune -