The United States has intensified surveillance of Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
Islamabad has decided to raise the issue of the recently leaked US classified report suggesting that American secret agencies had stepped up the surveillance of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme with Washington, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The decision was taken here on Thursday during a meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA), which controls Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. The high-level meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and attended by the three services chiefs and key federal ministers.
The meeting came just days after The Washington Post, citing a 178-page summary of the US intelligence community’s ‘black budget’, said the US had ramped up its surveillance of Pakistan’s nuclear arms, was concerned about biological and chemical arms sites in the country and trying to evaluate the loyalty of Pakistani counter-terrorism agents recruited by the CIA.
A senior official told The Express Tribune that the NCA voiced its concerns over the leaked report and decided to seek an explanation from Washington over the issue.
The government has already been in touch with US authorities over the controversy, said the official while requesting anonymity.
A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the NCA reposed full confidence in Pakistan’s ‘robust nuclear command and control structure’ and all the security controls related to strategic assets of the country.
The official release said the NCA reviewed developments at the regional level and reiterated that, as a responsible nuclear weapons state, Pakistan would continue to adhere to the policy of ‘credible minimum deterrence’ without entering into an arms race with any other country.
Pakistan, however, would not remain oblivious to the evolving security dynamics in South Asia and would maintain a full spectrum deterrence capability to deter all forms of aggression, it added.
The meeting also reviewed the developments at the international level and took note of the discriminatory trends and policies that could have serious implications for Pakistan’s national security and the global non-proliferation regime.
The NCA reiterated that while maintaining its principled position on various arms control and non-proliferation issues, Pakistan would continue to oppose any arrangement that is detrimental to its security and strategic interests.
As for the proposed Fissile Material (Cut-Off) Treaty, Pakistan’s position will be determined by its national security interests and the objectives of strategic stability in South Asia.
The meeting underscored Pakistan’s commitment to play its due part as a mainstream partner in the global non-proliferation regime, and renewed Pakistan’s keen interest in joining the multilateral export control regimes on non-discriminatory basis.
Pakistan has the requisite credentials for full access to civil nuclear technology for peaceful purposes to meet its growing energy needs for continued economic growth.
The meeting noted the importance of Pakistan’s positive outreach and enhanced engagement with all the multilateral export control regimes, including membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The NCA emphasised that Pakistan will continue to participate constructively in the Nuclear Security Summit process.
As a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan is ready to share its expertise with other interested states by providing fuel cycle services under IAEA safeguards and by providing training placements at its Centers of Excellence on nuclear security, the statement said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 6th, 2013.
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