December 31, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 26, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: Pakistan on Monday reaffirmed that the command and control structure of its nuclear programme was in safe hands and that its nuclear safety standards were impeccable.

Foreign office spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan said this while answering questions about a report appearing in a section of foreign press relating to the transfer of nuclear equipment.

“Pakistan’s nuclear programme is there. It is in safe hands and our friends understand our position. Every country accepts the fact that Pakistan’s command and control structure is completely in safe hands.”

The spokesman asserted that ever since Pakistan installed its first nuclear plant, all countries accepted that its nuclear standards were “totally impeccable” as also the transfer of technology.

He accused some “hostile lobbies and elements” of floating questionable reports about the country’s nuclear programme and declared: “Our safety standards are totally adequate and if there is any need (in the future), we will look at it”.

The spokesman described new Indian visa curbs on Pakistani visitors as unfortunate and not conducive to promote dialogue and understanding between New Delhi and Islamabad. “What is required is to take steps which will reduce tension, pave way for dialogue and discussions for peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues,” he stressed.

Such measures, the spokesman said, would only create more difficulties for ordinary people going to India to meet their divided family members. However, he added, Pakistan did not contemplate a tit-for-tat response to the Indian decision.

The spokesman debunked some foreign reports alleging that Pakistan had supplied to North Korea nuclear centrifuges concealed in the coffin for the body of a diplomatic official’s wife transported in a passenger aircraft from Islamabad. The allegation, he said, touched “new heights” of being ridiculous.

He told a reporter that Washington had registered Pakistan’s concerns adequately about the inclusion of Pakistanis in the US government’s INS programme. He, however, said that the recently-introduced security measures by the US would ultimately cover the aliens from all over the world.

He said diplomatic channels between Islamabad and Moscow were in touch with each other to work out dates for President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Russia on the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.

The spokesman said that fresh dates for the Saarc summit were being considered.