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By Zeeshan Haider
Reuters
Friday, January 25, 2008; 2:33 AM ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's army chief dismissed on Friday fears
that the country's nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of Islamist
militants as the military test fired a nuclear-capable missile.
Pakistan is a staunch ally in the U.S.-led war on terrorism but
deteriorating security and political turmoil has raised international
concern about the safety of its nuclear weapons. General Ashfaq Kayani, who became army chief in November when Pervez
Musharraf stepped down to become a civilian president, rejected the
worry as "unrealistic." Speaking at the test-firing of a medium-range Shaheen-1 (Hatf-IV)
ballistic missile, he said such concerns were based on a "lack of
understanding of Pakistan's command and control mechanisms." "He said the Pakistani armed forces were a highly professional,
motivated and well-trained force and were capable of safeguarding and
securing nuclear assets against all categories of threat," the military
said in a statement. Pakistan carried out nuclear tests in May 1998, days after its old rival
India conducted tests. Kayani said Pakistan had developed a strong nuclear deterrence
capability but it did not harbor aggressive designs against anyone. "Pakistan's nuclear capability was solely for the purpose of deterring
all types of aggression," he was cited as saying. Pakistan has seen a rise in militant violence since the middle of last
year and has been rocked by political turmoil at the same time over
opposition to Musharraf's bid to stay on as president. The assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in a December27
attack blamed on al Qaeda-linked militants highlighted worry about the
country's prospects. "IRRESPONSIBLE ALARM" Some U.S. nuclear experts and politicians raised fresh concern about the
safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons and facilities. But despite such concern, Washington believes Pakistan's arsenal remains
secure. U.S. military and defence officials say the weapons are safely
under Pakistani military control. Several U.S. lawmakers visited Pakistan recently and met officials of
the military's Strategic Plans Division, which oversees the nuclear arsenal. Senator Joseph Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, told
reporters he had been assured that there was no danger of the Muslim
nation's weapons falling into the hands of militants. Kayani said the creation of "irresponsible alarm by certain quarters"
was counter-productive, the military said. It did not elaborate. The Shaheen-1 missile, which can travel up to 700 km (435 miles), is
routinely fired for training purposes. Pakistan and India, which have fought thee wars since 1947 and nearly
went to war a fourth time in 2002, regularly carry out missile tests
despite a peace process they launched in early 2004. They inform each
other of such tests in advance.
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