Nuke assets well guarded, says FO
By Asghar Ali Mubarak

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan has made it clear that country’s nuclear assets are in safe hands adding the countries which are unhappy over Pakistan nuclear capability are fomenting rumors on its nuclear assets slipping into wrong hands. “ The news items published in a section of press including Washington Post with reference to Pakistan nuclear assets are unfounded. We categorically reject them. Going the nuclear assets into unsafe hands stands ruled out of question”, said foreign office spokesman M Sadiq in his weekly press briefing here Monday.
Country’s command and control system is strong and effective like the other nuclear capable countries possessing nuclear assets, he said adding “ we can not only safeguard the nuclear assets but have full reciprocal capability on this count. Responding to a question he said certain countries were not happy over country’s nuclear capability. Therefore, they launch baseless propaganda, he added. Strategic plan division controls nuclear assets. We continue to share the expertise and experiences of other nuclear countries for better safety and security of these assets”, he underlined.
To another query he said Pakistan was playing positive role in international organizations. Therefore, we are members and chairmen of different agencies of UN”, he added. Replying to another question he said “ we will show our reaction whenever any decision is taken in the meeting of common wealth.
He brushed aside the criticism from Indian National Security Advisor of Pakistan internal situation saying the public rallies of Islamabad and Lahore have nothing to do with border security, The situation is normal there. He told Britain had sought access to 4 lawyers including Aitzaz Ahsan. Government will however decide about it keeping in view ground realities.
As far are curbs on media are concerned he said adding we are cognizant of international community concern. “ But we are stressing upon the world should demonstrate harmony and seek perception of our internal affairs. To another question he said talks at technical level were underway on Pakistan, Iran and India gas pipeline project. However India has not joined it so far, he added. Pakistan, highlighting the importance of Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project and expressing its full sincere commitment to it, said Monday that technical talks are going on and there has been progress in these negotiations between Pakistan and Iran. Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq told a weekly media briefing that the technical talks’ are underway but without India’s participation.
He said Pakistan is committed to the IPI project and needs Iranian gas to meet its growing energy needs. Replying to a question the spokesman said domestic issues could not destabilize the security at the borders, adding that the borders both western and eastern borders of Pakistan are well protected.
Answering a question about shifting of Chinese from the Swat and other areas, the spokesman confirmed that some of the Chinese have been shifted to other places due to security reasons and when the situation improved their will resume their duties.
Expressing satisfaction over the on-going composite dialogue between Pakistan and India, Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said Monday that the process was “moving in right direction.”
Talking to PTV the spokesman said both the countries have adopted several confidence building measures (CBMs) which helped defuse past tension.
In 2002, he said the situation on the border was very tense as about one million troops from the two sides were standing eyeball- to-eyeball. Exchange of fire at Line of Control in Kashmir was a routine matter then but it stopped after a ceasefire in 2003.
However, he said there was not sufficient progress over the core issue of Kashmir. “We hope that there will be progress and lasting solution of this issue would be found.”
Commenting on Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project, Muhammad Sadiq said presently technical level consultations were taking place in this regard.
He said another similar project, Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan- India (TAPI) pipeline, was also under consideration..