Pakistan dismisses 'alarmist reporting' on nuclear programme

Tribune

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday dismissed reports that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal had doubled to edge past a stockpile of 100 deployed weapons as “unnecessary alarmist reporting”.

Responding to reports that Pakistan was increasing its stockpile of nuclear weapons, the Foreign Office said it would continue to follow a responsible policy of maintaining credible minimum deterrence.

“Pakistan is mindful of the need to avoid arms race with India but would never compromise on its national security,” a Foreign Office spokesman said while responding to an article in New York Times titled “Pakistani Nuclear Arms Pose Challenge to US Policy.”

The Washington Post also reported yesterday that according to estimates by nongovernment analysts, Pakistan had significantly accelerated production of uranium and plutonium for bombs and developed new weapons to deliver them,

It also said that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal had “now edged ahead of India, its nuclear-armed rival.”

A statement by the Foreign Office said that “In the nuclearized environment of South Asia, Pakistan continues to attach importance to ensuring peace, security and stability in South Asia and was mindful of the adverse implications of ‘selectivity and exceptionalism in evidence on issues of nuclear non-proliferation.’”

It said that Pakistan had consistently advocated the need to resume the stalled Pakistan-India Dialogue, including on issues of peace and security.

“In this context, Pakistan’s proposal for strategic restraint regime in South Asia, including nuclear and conventional forces as well as resolution of all issues and disputes, is of extreme importance.”

Pakistan test fires nuclear-capable missile

Ghauri Hatf 5 has a range of 1,300 kilometres (800 miles)

AFP

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan on Tuesday successfully test fired a medium-range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads, the military said.

The military said in a statement that Ghauri Hatf 5, with a range of 1,300 kilometres (800 miles), could carry conventional and other warheads.

The launch was conducted by the Army Strategic Force command's strategic missile group at the end of a field-training exercise aimed at testing the force's operational readiness, the statement said.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman General Khalid Shahmeem Wyne and other senior military officers and scientists witnessed the tests, it said.

"You have made the nation proud and we salute you for your outstanding work," Gilani told the scientists and engineers.

Gilani said Pakistan could be proud of its defence capability and the reliability of its nuclear deterrence. This capability, he added, formed the bedrock of Pakistan?s security policy and will continue to be enhanced.

"The test amply demonstrates the credibility of our minimum deterrence strategy, which is the cornerstone of our security policy and ensures peace in the region," he said.

"It also sends the right signals internationally that Pakistan?s defence capability is impregnable and should never be challenged."

Gilani said Pakistan was a responsible nation with an extremely reliable nuclear capability and did not harbor any aggressive designs against anyone.

South Asian rivals India and Pakistan -- which have fought three wars, two of them over the disputed territory of Kashmir -- have routinely carried out missile tests since both demonstrated nuclear weapons capability in 1998.

Pakistan's arsenal includes short-, medium- and long-range missiles named after Muslim conquerors.

"Let there be no doubt that Pakistan?s armed forces are highly professional, motivated and fully capable of safeguarding Pakistan?s security against all types of aggression," Gilani added.