Pakistan insists nuke arsenal secure.

Pakistan insists nuke arsenal secure.

( Posted because of increased background noise on : "nuke")

Afp, Islamabad

Pakistan yesterday again rejected concerns about the security of its nuclear weapons and said the safety of its atomic arsenal was "foolproof".

The security of Pakistan's estimated 50 nuclear warheads has been under global scrutiny since President Pervez Musharraf imposed a state of emergency on November 3 citing Islamist violence and political turmoil.

Advances by Taliban militants in the country's northwestern regions bordering Afghanistan have fuelled fears abroad that hardliners could threaten Pakistan's nuclear weapons, or even stage a takeover.

The military said Friday the security of the country's nuclear weapons had been underlined at a meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA) led by Musharraf.

"The NCA took note of the hostile campaign in a section of the international media with regard to Pakistan's nuclear assets," it said in a statement.

"While reiterating that the security of Pakistan's nuclear assets was foolproof, it advised against creating irresponsible alarm," it said.

Pakistan confirmed last month that the United States was helping ensure the security of its atomic weapons and shrugged off reports of a secret programme with Washington as nothing new.

The reports drew heavy criticism within Pakistan over perceived US interference in a vital national security asset.

The military on Tuesday vowed a strong response to any international attempt to seize its atomic arsenal.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=15493

http://tinyurl.com/yqez4e

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Background noise found: Iran, Nule, NIE here:


Gerald
Patki will be al Qaeda's last stand....
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