October 31, 2001	Wednesday	Shaba’an 13, 1422

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NEW DELHI, Oct 30: For the first since President K.R. Narayanan called President Pervez Musharraf a distinguished son of Delhi, India on Tuesday had something positive to say for Pakistan, stressing that contrary to the belief being spread by sections of the western media, Islamabad’s nuclear arsenal were safe and secure in the hands of responsible people.

The remarks by Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes indicated a fresh appraisal even by Islamabad’s most bitter foe, in which they see in the military ruler an uncanny anchor of stability for the region.

“Those who are concerned with Pakistan’s nuclear programme are responsible people,” Fernandes told a seminar on terrorism in Delhi. “One may have differences with Pakistan on politics, but I would certainly like to give them credit for being responsible people, who will know how to keep their nuclear assets in safe custody, where they don’t fall in wrong hands.”

Fernandes’ remarks came a day after the United States said on Monday there was no truth in a story published in an American journal that a special US unit was training with Israeli commandos to take out Pakistan’s nuclear weapons in case of a coup against Gen Musharraf.

The story, by Seymour Hersh, appeared in this week’s issue of the New Yorker magazine. It quotes both serving and retired US officials as sources. But, asked to comment on it, a senior State Department official refuted the story and said there was no truth in it.

Concern has often been expressed at seminars and discussions in Washington about the possibility of a takeover of Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities by militants and extremists. In fact, this possibility has been put forward, by both American and Pakistan sources, as an argument to advocate supporting the present military regime or a moderate regime in Pakistan.

“Already there are fears of the likely use of chemical and biological weapons by terrorists, which has created unprecedented panic in the United States and in European countries,” Fernandes said while addressing a seminar on “The global threat of terror”.

Tuesday’s comments by the Indian defence minister reflected a cherished view held by the Indian and Pakistani armies that even by the most civilized western standards both had acquitted themselves well in the time of conflict by avoiding assault on civilians.

Fernandes said there was poetic justice in the fact that Pakistan which had trained the Taliban for years was now taking the lead in their elimination. He said the US objective of either catching alive or killing Osama bin Laden would not be easy. Eliminating the Taliban was a long-term gamble.

He said although India had been shouting about Pakistan’s help to the terrorists from every global platform, no nation thought it was necessary to bomb ‘terrorist training camps’ in Pakistan. He said the Indian army had avoided attacking the camps fearing civilian casualties.