Pakistan’s strategic assets in safe hands: Foreign Office

Asking the world not to show concern for the safety of the Pakistan’s nuclear assets, Foreign Office on Thursday reiterated that it strategic assets were safe under a robust command and control system.

Foreign Office spokesperson Moazzam Ahmad Khan while commenting on remarks made by US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta that Pakistan’s strategic assets could fall into the hands of militants stated detailed measures were in place to protect the nukes.

He spoke at the same day a brazen attack was launched by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on a key military airbase in Kamra.

The Pakistani forces, however, managed to kill all the attackers after an almost five hour-long gun battle between SSG Commandoes of Pakistan Army and assailants.

The latest attack by the local militants renewed questions over security at sensitive installations across the country.

TTP released a statement saying, “To avenge the deaths of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud, they would continue to target security installations until the establishment of a true Islamic state in Pakistan”.

Vowing not to make any compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty, the spokesperson said no foreign forces will be permitted to conduct operation in North Waziristan.

Moazzam Khan noted, “This is a question of Pakistan’s sovereignty and we have made it clear from the day one that fighting extremism and terrorism on our territory remains Pakistan’s responsibility. We are quite active on handling the situation on our own”.

The spokesperson made it clear that Islamabad was cooperating with the world in terms of intelligence sharing in the war on terror.

Washington and Islamabad continue engagement on various fronts including economic political and security issues, he added.

He further said that both the countries were working to enhance cooperation in these areas for their mutual benefit.

He observed, “Both countries are engaging each other on the issue and Pakistan is also engaging the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on the issue”.

He was of the opinion that appropriate measures will have to be taken to address militancy in the region.

The spokesperson while replying to a query said that the Ministry of Interior and other concern departments have already contradicted a news report regarding meeting of Afghan officials with detained Taliban leader Mullah Baradar.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=31101

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Aug 17 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.