Mullen recognises Pak efforts to protect nuclear weapons

COLORADO: US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen said that Pakistan has taken and continues to take extraordinary steps to protect and secure its nuclear weapons.

The US military chief was speaking at a public forum in Colorado.

Admiral Mullen said, "I have raised this issue with the Pakistani military since Day 1, as much as we are focused on this (terrorism) threat — and the Pakistanis are more than they used to be – they see a threat in India and (having nuclear weapons) is their deterrent. They see this as a huge part of their national security.”

He also said that the nuclear programme had no parallels with North Korea or Iran's nuclear ambitions.

"These are the most important weapons in the Pakistani arsenal. That is understood by the leadership, and they go to extraordinary efforts to protect and secure them. These are their crown jewels", the admiral said.

Mullen had also said that the US was working towards re-strengthening its ties with Pakistan but the task could not be completed overnight.