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Indian PM remarks on N-program 'unfortunate': Pakistan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, July 22, IRNA
Pakistan-India
Pakistan on Thursday termed as "unfortunate" recent remarks by Indian prime minister regarding the security of Pakistan's nuclear program and strategic assets and said the remarks "create a misleading impression removed from facts".

"Pakistan's nuclear capability is defensive and based on minimum credible deterrence. Pakistan's nuclear program and strategic assets are secure, under strict and multi-layered custodial controls," Foreign Office said in a statement.

It said an elaborate command and control mechanism,
institutionalized in the shape of the National Command Authority has been in place since 2000.

"We have studied the models of command and control systems elsewhere, and our multi-layered security structures are at par with the most stringent international systems and practices."
The statement said the issue of terrorism, which is a global phenomenon should not be used to malign Pakistan, "which is in the forefront of the international fight against terrorism".

"International terrorism has affected many countries and has historical background and root cause in disputes and deprivation." Pakistan, it added, had done more than most countries in fighting terrorism and has had more successes in capturing and eliminating elements of Al-Qaeda than all other countries combined.

"Pakistan has paid a high price but our determination to eliminate terrorism and extremism remains firm and strong. Pakistan is in the business of combating terrorism, and not creating the conditions in which terrorism thrives, as is the position elsewhere in our neighborhood," the statement said without any specification, although the remark is very provocative and stingy in norms of international diplomacy and contrary to rules of friendly ties among any neighboring countries.

"Regarding non-proliferation, Pakistan is committed to the global WMD non-proliferation regime, and has lived up to its commitments in this regard."
"In our region Pakistan was not the first to introduce nuclear weapons and we never misused our civilian nuclear facilities to develop weapons," Foreign Office said.

Saying that Pakistan was also not the first to conduct nuclear tests in South Asia, it said, "At present, as a responsible nuclear state, we have instituted both command and control systems as well as strong export controls that testify to our resolve and commitment against WMD proliferation".

2020/235/2329/1422