ISLAMABAD, Dec 21: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has ruled out any likelihood of the country’s nuclear and missile assets falling into wrong hands, saying that “they are absolutely secure under custodial safeguards.”

In an interview with the Far Eastern Economic Review, he said, “I can say they (the nuclear and missile assets) are absolutely secure. We have no doubt.”

Asked if the country’s nuclear weapons and technology was secure, the president said he had no doubt about that. “We have institutionalized arrangements. We have a national command authority, which oversees everything. There are custodial safeguards.”

Gen Musharraf said the arrangements made were totally secure and “I’m very sure that there cannot be any proliferation, there cannot be any breach of security, our nuclear and missile assets cannot fall into wrong hands at all.”

With regard to the two nuclear scientists, who have been detained for violating security rules, he stated that action against them would be taken if it was confirmed that they had violated the security rules.

Answering a question about an Indian newspaper report that the nuclear scientists may have fled to Burma, the president said: “India just wants one thing; they want to damage us. Anything they want to do in Afghanistan, the purpose is only one; how to do something, which will be against Pakistan that will damage our cause. That is their sole purpose.”

Afghanistan, he said, had suffered tremendously and “we understand their problems. We are their neighbours. Geography, our common history, our common culture and religion cannot be undermined by any actions of India, I’m very sure of that.”

Replying to another question, he said, “We have to make sure that the political environment that will emerge in Afghanistan is such which brings peace and stability and ensures the unity of Afghanistan and is representative of all ethnic groups. And which is friendly with all its neighbours, which includes Pakistan.”

Gen Musharraf said his country wanted to have a negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute.

Answering another question, he dispelled the impression of any government sponsorship in what was happening in the occupied Kashmir Valley.

The president asked how the freedom struggle in the held Kashmir could have continued if it was not indigenous and did not have the backing of the people of Kashmir. “Why doesn’t India open the border and let international groups like Amnesty International to come and see?”

When asked whether a pipeline from Iran to India passing through Pakistan could act as a confidence building measure with India, he said, “Absolutely. We’re for it.” He added that it was India that did not want it because of its own suspicion.

Replying to a question, he said the government was determined to hold the general election in October next year. The election commission, he added, would be absolutely autonomous and that provincial elections would also be held in the same month.

He did not see any role for Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in the election. “Their parties will have a role. It will be a party-based election. The People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League are two of the important parties and we wish them well.”—APP