Pakistan puts more into nuclear security
Source: Agencies |
November 8, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PAKISTAN is training 8,000 additional people to protect the country's nuclear arsenal, which the US fears could be vulnerable to penetration by Islamist militants at war with the West, according to the Pakistani military.
Those fears were heightened by a recent US magazine article that quoted unnamed Pakistani and US officials as saying Pakistan transports nuclear weapons components around the country in delivery vans with little security - a claim denied by Islamabad.
Pakistan insists its nuclear arsenal is well defended, and the widespread fear among many Pakistanis is that the main threat stems not from al-Qaida or the Taliban, but from suspected US plans to seize the country's weapons. These fears were heightened by the covert US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May.
Washington has insisted it has no plans to seize Pakistan's weapons. But the recent article in a magazine quoted unnamed US military and intelligence officials as saying the US has trained extensively for missions in Pakistan to secure nuclear weapons or materials that fall into the wrong hands.
The announcement by the Pakistani military that it is training an additional 8,000 people to protect the nuclear arsenal could be seen as a response to the magazine article.
"This (group) comprises hand-picked officers and men, who are physically robust, mentally sharp and equipped with modern weapons and equipment," said the Pakistani military last Sunday.
A statement was released in conjunction with the graduation of 700 of these security personnel. The ceremony was attended by Major General Muhammad Tahir, head of security for the strategic plans division - the arm of the Pakistani military tasked with protecting the nuclear arsenal.
Tahir "reiterated that extensive resources have been made available to train, equip, deploy and sustain an independent and potent security force to meet any and every threat emanating from any quarter," according to the statement.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said allegations in the magazine's article were "pure fiction."
Fears that the US could seize Pakistan's nuclear weapons are driven by widespread anti-Americanism in the country. Nearly 70 percent there view the US as an enemy, according to a poll conducted by the US-based Pew Research Center in June.
The US Embassy said yesterday it has confidence that Pakistan is aware of the range of threats to its nuclear arsenal and has given high priority to securing its weapons and material.
It quoted US President Barack Obama as saying in March he feels "confident about Pakistan's security around its nuclear weapons programs. But that does not mean there is not improvement to make."
Those fears were heightened by a recent US magazine article that quoted unnamed Pakistani and US officials as saying Pakistan transports nuclear weapons components around the country in delivery vans with little security - a claim denied by Islamabad.
Pakistan insists its nuclear arsenal is well defended, and the widespread fear among many Pakistanis is that the main threat stems not from al-Qaida or the Taliban, but from suspected US plans to seize the country's weapons. These fears were heightened by the covert US raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May.
Washington has insisted it has no plans to seize Pakistan's weapons. But the recent article in a magazine quoted unnamed US military and intelligence officials as saying the US has trained extensively for missions in Pakistan to secure nuclear weapons or materials that fall into the wrong hands.
The announcement by the Pakistani military that it is training an additional 8,000 people to protect the nuclear arsenal could be seen as a response to the magazine article.
"This (group) comprises hand-picked officers and men, who are physically robust, mentally sharp and equipped with modern weapons and equipment," said the Pakistani military last Sunday.
A statement was released in conjunction with the graduation of 700 of these security personnel. The ceremony was attended by Major General Muhammad Tahir, head of security for the strategic plans division - the arm of the Pakistani military tasked with protecting the nuclear arsenal.
Tahir "reiterated that extensive resources have been made available to train, equip, deploy and sustain an independent and potent security force to meet any and every threat emanating from any quarter," according to the statement.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said allegations in the magazine's article were "pure fiction."
Fears that the US could seize Pakistan's nuclear weapons are driven by widespread anti-Americanism in the country. Nearly 70 percent there view the US as an enemy, according to a poll conducted by the US-based Pew Research Center in June.
The US Embassy said yesterday it has confidence that Pakistan is aware of the range of threats to its nuclear arsenal and has given high priority to securing its weapons and material.
It quoted US President Barack Obama as saying in March he feels "confident about Pakistan's security around its nuclear weapons programs. But that does not mean there is not improvement to make."
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