Islamabad, May 07: In the midst of peace efforts by India and Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali today attended a high-level meeting of Pakistan's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) which controls the country's nuclear weapons. Official media reports here said the meeting of NCA headed by Musharraf reviewed the development works as well as the effectiveness of the command and control system.
They said the committee approved a number of proposals put forward by secretariat of the strategic plan division. The committee reiterated that while deterrence was the cornerstone of Pakistan's security policy, Pakistan did not believe in arms race. Besides Musharraf and Jamali, the meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Khurshid Muhammad Kasuri, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, service chiefs and senior military officials.
Today's NCA meeting was held hours ahead of the high profile visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary Chirstina Rocca.
The two already had a meeting with ISI chief Lt. Gen. Eshanul Huq in Washington to discuss security related issues, India-Pakistan relations and US-Pakistan relations. The meeting was also held in the backdrop of Jamali's suggestion for nuclear and strategic security dialogue between India and Pakistan while announcing the confidence-building measures.
Announcing the measures, Jamali had said nuclear realities in the South Asian region imposed certain obligations and responsibilities on India and Pakistan. Bureau Report