Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said there was no question of Islamabad giving up its nuclear programme but assured the international community that the nuclear installations were fully safeguarded and there was no possibility of nuclear weapons falling into any wrong hands. Pakistan`s nuclear assets were the cornerstone of the country`s national security and there was no question of any compromise on the nuclear programme, Musharraf said, presiding over special session of National Command Authority, the final authority to take decisions on the nuclear-related matters.
Referring to negative speculation about the safety and security of Pakistan`s strategic assets, he said these were fully safeguarded and there was no possibility whatsoever of the nuclear weapons falling into any wrong hands. Musharraf also reaffirmed Pakistan`s determination to defend its sovereignty and independence and thwart any aggression.
An official press release said the meeting, which was attended by the foreign minister, interior minister, chairman joint chiefs of staff committee, services chiefs, senior scientists and other senior military officers, took a number of decisions on strategic matters. This was the first meeting after the September 11 terror attacks in the US and the first ever since Musharraf effected the biggest reshuffle among the top commanders.
Bureau Report