16 February 2005	Wednesday	06 Muharram 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: Pakistan on Tuesday described as total fabrication a recent American news report citing a CIA document which alleged that Pakistani nuclear assets were not in safe hands and they were liable to be stolen.

Referring to the report at his weekly news briefing, foreign office spokesman Masood Khan asserted that Pakistan's nuclear assets and programme were completely secured by an elaborate, viable, dependable and infallible command and control system. In addition, the custodial controls were stringent.

He said the security system comprised four areas - command, control and communication system; credible information, reliable intelligence and finally, reconnaissance installations. A national command authority was in place and "we have a strategic plans commission and strategic forces command".

The spokesman elaborated that Pakistan had constituted a National Command Authority, the apex body ensuring the safety and security of nuclear weapons, which was headed by the president and the prime minister was its vice-chairman. Any speculation as reported in the report quoting the CIA was irresponsible, he said.

The CIA had reported the possibility of theft or transfer of Pakistan's nuclear technology or assets, although, the spokesman said, the transfer of the assets was an impossibility. He, however, held out the assurance that like all responsible nuclear states Pakistan remained vigilant all the times to safeguard its nuclear material or information.

About British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's remarks here on Monday about efforts to defuse the Iran-West crisis over the nuclear issue, Mr Khan said Pakistan was not in a position to pass judgement on the Iran-Europe engagement. However, he added, as a friend of Iran and the European Union members, Pakistan would like the issue to be defused through negotiations because another conflict would create tremendous problems for all the states in the region.