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| 08 February 2004 | Sunday | 16 Zilhaj 1424 |
N-assets not open to inspection, says Munir
ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: The United States and United Nations believe that Pakistan's decisions and steps regarding nuclear proliferation are in the right direction, says Munir Akram, Pakistan's permanent representative to United Nations.
He said there was a general impression in the US and the UN that actions taken by Pakistan and President Pervez Musharraf against the proliferation network were "bold," Munir Akram told PTV.
They believed that Pakistan had "smashed the network of proliferators" and that the action was a "difficult one for the country to take," he added.
There was also an understanding that it was an internal matter of Pakistan, he said, adding there was also an appreciation of Pakistan's position.
Munir Akram said that Pakistan was a sovereign country and not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
There was no question of allowing anyone to inspect or hand over documents regarding investigations on nuclear proliferation, he told BBC.
"We have to safeguard our nuclear and strategic assets which are not open to inspection. We will not be open to inspection," he added.
He said Pakistan started courageously and voluntarily to ascertain facts regarding allegation of nuclear weapon proliferations.
As soon as the information was provided to Pakistan that there was something going on, Pakistan acted quickly and the network to nuclear proliferation from Pakistan end had been broken, he said.
Pakistan, he said, acquired nuclear weapons for strategic deterrence against India. It was not logical to say that Pakistan proliferated, he added.
He said the US Secretary of State Colin Powell had expressed satisfaction at the cooperation and assurances provided by Pakistan.
"As far as Pakistan is concerned, we are cooperating and we shall cooperate voluntarily to ensure and assure everyone about the facts ... Pakistan has no reason to hide facts," he said.
He said Pakistan was a partner in the fight against nuclear proliferation, adding there was no evidence of transfer of nuclear weapons proliferation to non-state actors.
Elaborating, he said it was a difficult technology and even states had difficulties in mastering nuclear weapons' technology, adding it was hard to believe that non-state actors would have the capability to acquire such weapons.-APP
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