The story was “yet another manifestation of a clichéd theme, conjuring up baseless scenarios,” Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam. PHOTO: FILE
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam Khan in a statement released on Wednesday expressed regret on the story published in The New York Times on January 26 titled “Afghanistan exit is seen as peril to CIA drone mission,” authored by David Sanger and Eric Schmitt.
Published two days ago, the story had hinted towards US fears over a possible nuclear crisis in the region and the maintainability of a drone campaign in the mountainous tribal areas of Pakistan.
The foreign office spokesperson said that the story was “yet another manifestation of a clichéd theme, conjuring up baseless scenarios.”
Khan further asserted that “Pakistan follows best practices and standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency. It has an impeccable record of safely operating nuclear power plants for over 40 years.”
“The timing of this story, purportedly based on briefings by anonymous US officials, is rather intriguing, coming, as it did, on the eve of the ministerial level review of the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States in Washington.”
The spokesperson added that “the contents and drift of the story contradict the expression of desire by senior members of the US Administration to develop an enduring partnership with Pakistan on the basis of mutual trust and mutual respect.”
“Such tendentious reporting is also at variance with the confidence expressed by US leaders and officials in the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.”
She underscored “the fact that Pakistan has both the will and the capacity to thwart all threats to its nuclear assets.”
“This clarity of purpose is underpinned by national consensus on the indispensability of a credible minimum nuclear deterrent to the strategic calculus of Pakistan.”
COMMENTS (17)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732623521-0/bitcoin-(1)1732623521-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732621030-0/Express-Tribune-(7)1732621030-0-270x192.webp "won t leave until imran khan orders us to k p cm gandapur")
1732622842-0/Express-Tribune-(9)1732622842-0-270x192.webp "pakistan belarus to fast track bilateral agreements sign multiple mous")
1725254039-0/Untitled-design-(24)1725254039-0-270x192.webp "hidden hand blocking pti s dialogue efforts mohsin naqvi")
1732617223-0/Untitled-design-(69)1732617223-0-270x192.webp "pti protestors reach islamabad s d chowk amid tense clashes")
@Altaf qureshi: India is not the right model to compare with.
Ms Tasneem Aslam is welcome to her view but she must be aware that there have been reports recently about Saudi Arabia getting nuclear weapons from Pakistan “at will”. She may also remember that at one time Pakistan was credited with actions which directly violated non-proliferation norms when it gave nuclear related information and material to North Korea, Iran, and Libya. These activities have been documented and are well known. Then, we all know that Pakistan’s security forces are infiltrated with Islamist-minded personnel who are rather sympathetic to Taliban and other terrorists (who are lovingly referred to as militants in Pakistani sources). If USA is concerned about the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets, it is only natural. The response from Pakistan should not be mere re-assertion that “Pakistan follows best practices and standards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.” The response should be seen in the actual ground security and the impeccable record of those manning that security. It is for Pakistan to take such steps as it deems appropriate. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, 30 Jan 2014, 1630 IST
@Al-Bakistan: Why only India Pakistan? why not all nuclear nations?
@Al-Bakistan: Pakistan needs its nukes.
@Zeeshan Khan: What are nukes good for anyway? They are VERY expensive to maintain for poor countries like India and Pakistan. They are like suicide vests. Once you use them, life as we know it, comes to an explosive end. I am all for India and Pakistan giving up their nukes.
Its Chinese anyway. Anf when did you last hear anyone say that they brought a Chinese item because its quality was great?
Pakistan's nuclear assets are the next target of USA. They are creating propaganda against Pakistan and eventually they will invade Pakistan to deprive it from its nuclear assets. The reason for invasion will be to make more world peaceful. Else USA will support terrorists to attack nuclear sites in Pakistan to build a case against Pakistan.
ET you must publish my comment if you are democratic.