‘No one is getting our nukes, not even Saudis’
June 06, 2015
WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD/ NEW YORK: Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry on Thursday denied speculations that Pakistan could sell Saudi Arabia an “off-the-shelf” nuclear weapon.
After meetings at the White House, Pentagon and State Department, Chaudhry described the suggestions Pakistan could sell a weapon as “unfounded, baseless and untrue”.
“Pakistan’s nuclear programme has nothing to do with any other country,” he told reporters. “This is a deterrence that we developed in response to a threat perception that we have from our east. That’s it.”
“Pakistan is not talking to Saudi Arabia on nuclear issues, period,” Chaudhry insisted. The arsenal, believed to be in excess of 100 weapons, is focused only on Pakistan’s threat perception from “the East” Chaudhry said, a clear reference to long-standing rival and fellow nuclear power India.
Chaudhry said his country has significantly cracked down in recent years on proliferation, improving its export controls and providing UN nuclear monitors with all necessary information. Pakistan also won’t allow any weapons to reach terrorists, he said.
Pakistan detonated its first nuclear weapons in 1998, shortly after India did.
Chaudhry was in the US capital for a US-Pakistan strategic dialogue and meetings with several senior diplomatic and military officials. The State Department said on Wednesday the agenda included “international efforts to enhance nuclear security” as well as non-proliferation and export controls.
It described the discussions as “productive” and said the governments would work together to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction
Speaking to reporters, Chaudhry praised the progress thus far in the Iran nuclear talks. He told reporters that a diplomatic success would have significant economic benefits for Pakistan, allowing it to complete a long-sought gas pipeline project with its neighbour to the west.
Speaking at an event organised by the Atlantic Council, Chaudhry said Pakistan and the US have strong convergences in fighting terrorism and working together to stop extremism espoused by the ISIL and a stable Afghanistan was in the mutual interest of the two countries.
Referring to the ongoing military operations in the tribal areas against extremists, he said that the operation has entered a critical phase since last year. The Operation Zarb-e-Azb, he added, was aimed at clearing all territory in Pakistan from elements that aim to terrorize Pakistan or its neighbours.
“Our latest operations in North Waziristan and Khyber agencies have been a big success and nearly 90% of the areas have been cleared,” he said and added that the core of infamous TTP has been dismantled with its leadership on the run in Afghanistan.
Some remaining high-profile terrorists of al Qaeda were killed or captured in the last one year, the secretary said.
He described the US as a critical partner and said there were strong and enduring bases for this partnership to continue in the future.
The secretary thanked the US support to Pakistan in broad range of areas. “For many years, the US Congress has been supportive of building Pakistan’s capacity and helping us overcome challenges,” he added.
“The US has helped add over 1,400 Megawatt to our electricity grid, the USAID is supporting one of the largest Fulbright scholarship programme for Pakistan, especially for women,” the secretary said.
He said the US assistance in building infrastructure in remote areas such as FATA would leave an enduring impact in stimulating economic development in an area that had been infested with extremist ideologies for decades.
He thanked the Congress and the Americans for the support being extended to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, US Undersecretary for Treasury Adam J Szubin praised steps taken by Pakistan to meet international financial standards to monitor and interdict suspicious transactions.
During a meeting with Chaudhry, Szubin lauded Pakistan’s efforts to combat terrorism in line with the priorities set out in the National Action Plan.
Chaudhry briefed Szubin on various legislative and administrative steps taken by the government in the domain of Anti Money Laundering and Countering Terrorist Financing.
Separately, Aizaz Chaudhry called on US Defence Undersecretary Christine Wormuth. During the meeting, both sides discussed a wide range of issues related to bilateral defence cooperation; Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani accompanied the secretary.
Later, Chaudhry flew to New York to take part in the event on his way back to Pakistan.
Chaudhry has expressed his satisfaction over the series of talks he had with American officials during a hectic three-day trip to Washington in the course of which a joint US-Pak statement elaborately acknowledged Pakistan’s nuclear safety and security efforts and export controls.
“I’m fully satisfied with the results of my visit … the joint statement acknowledges that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon State,” he told US-based Pakistan reporters at the Pakistani Mission to the United Nations where he attended a Pakistan Peacekeepers Day function
He also said US officials expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts and the nation’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorists.
To a question, Chaudhry said Pakistan deserves to be fully recognized as a nuclear state as it has made remarkable progress in making peaceful use of the technology and, as endorsed internationally, the country has also ensured safety of its assets.
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