Islamabad, Sept 03: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today ruled out roll back or freeze of the country's nuclear weapons and dismissed reports of any assistance to Iran's nuclear programme. He dismissed any speculation that Pakistan planned to freeze or rollback its nuclear assets, while addressing a meeting of National Command Authority (NCA), the high level body that controls the country's nuclear weapons. "Such speculation was irrelevant, outdated and totally false," he told the meeting, held close on the heels of the meeting of India's National Command and Control Authority (NCCA) on Monday. The NCA meeting, which was attended by the country's top military brass, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, reviewed the progress of Pakistan's strategic programme, operational readiness of strategic forces and approved a number of recommendations put forward by its secretariat, the strategic plans division. An official press release here also quoted Musahrraf reiterating Pakistan's resolve not to enter into arms race with anyone while ensuring consolidation of Pakistan's minimum deterrence needs.
Musharraf also condemned the "inspired and malicious" campaign by sections of the international media by carrying reports of Pakistan's alleged assistance to Iran. He said Pakistan has a strong non-proliferation record and reaffirmed commitments to universal non-proliferation goals.
Bureau Report