US confident on Pakistan nuclear safety

The United States on Wednesday voiced confidence in Pakistan’s ability to safegaurd its nuclear weapons, brushing aside claims made in a recent magazine report that doubted the safety of atmoic assets. “Our views have not changed regarding nuclear security in Pakistan,” State Department Deputy spokesman Mark Toner said at the daily briefing. “We have confidence that the government of Pakistan is well aware of the range of potential threats to its nuclear arsenal and is accordingly giving a very high priority to securing its nuclear weapons materials effectively,” he added in response to a question.


The spokesman was commenting on claims made about Pakistan’s assets being insecure in a report published simultaneously in The National Journal and The Atlantic last week. Islamabad has already strongly rejected uncorroborated claims contained in the magazine report.
“I can’t speak to allegations, unconfirmed reports made in various press reports,” the State Department spokesman clarified, in a rejection of the underlying proposition in The National report.
“We continue to have confidence in the government of Pakistan that they both understand threat to their nuclear arsenal and are taking appropriate steps to safeguard them,” the spokesman said.(APP)