The Army top brass on Monday termed the report of US journalist Seymour Hersh as absurd and plainly mischievous, saying that Pakistan is capable of safeguarding its nuclear assets and will not share sensitive information with anyone. "Pakistan has a very effective nuclear security regime, which incorporates stringent custodial and access controls," said General Tariq Majeed, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) here.
Reacting to the article by Seymour M Hersh, published in The New Yorker, General Majeed said: "We have operationalised a very effective nuclear security regime, which incorporates very stringent custodial and access controls," according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
"As overall custodian of the development of the strategic programme, I reiterate in very unambiguous terms that there is absolutely no question of sharing or allowing any foreign individual, entity or a state, any access to sensitive information about our nuclear assets," General Majeed said, adding.
"Our engagement with other countries through IAEA or bilaterally to learn more about the international best practices for security of such assets are based on two clearly spelt out Red Lines, 'non intrusiveness' and 'our right to pick and choose." The JCSC Chairman said the security apparatus of Pakistan's nuclear programme has the capacity and is fully geared to meet all conceivable challenges.
"We do not need to negotiate with any other countries to physically augment our security forces, which in any case, we believe, are more capable than their forces," he added. Commenting on the question raised through an article "Pakistan Nuclear Security Plan: How much does US really know?" appeared in a section of press, General Tariq responded, "only that much as they can guess and nothing more."
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