Guarding nuclear weapons: N-security a sacred job, says army chief

Safety measures at par with internationally accepted practices

ISLAMABAD:

Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Friday said that his country has taken iron-clad measures to secure its nuclear weapons in line with internationally accepted practices, dismissing fears about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal ahead of his trip to Washington.

While visiting the Pakistan Centre for Excellence for Nuclear Security (PCENS) facility at Chakri near Islamabad on Friday, Gen Raheel expressed confidence in the nuclear security regime in place.

According to a statement from the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief lauded the high standards of professionalism and commitment of the troops under the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). The division is responsible for the management, administration and security of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

While interacting with officers and troops, Gen Raheel emphasised that nuclear security is a sacred responsibility. “I am glad to see that it [nuclear security] has [been] instilled as a culture and the progress made in the recent past is praiseworthy”.

Pakistan’s nuclear programme has been under the spotlight in recent weeks in the wake of reports suggesting that the US was ready to offer concessions in return for Islamabad accepting certain limits on its fast expanding nuclear programme. US President Barack Obama was due to discuss the plans with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his October visit, but that plan was dropped.

The army chief’s statement comes just 48 hours before he is set to embark on a five-day tour of Washington where nuclear security is likely to be discussed.

The ISPR said that as a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan has taken several measures, including setting up the PCENS to strengthen its nuclear security regime at par with internationally accepted practices.

“Pakistan has also offered this centre of excellence as a regional and international hub for imparting nuclear security education and training to the international community,” the military’s media wing added.

Since its establishment, PCENS has conducted several national and international training courses focussing on specialised training courses in physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities, material control and accounting, personnel reliability, transport security and other security related areas.

During his visit, the army chief witnessed state-of-the-art facilities being offered at PECNS and ongoing training activities. He was also given a briefing by Lt General Mazhar Jamil, director general of SPD.


Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2015.