ISLAMABAD: Pakistan needs an independent narrative on its nuclear programme and a proactive foreign policy on nuclear weapons.

“Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and we have always followed the international law and international protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the safety and security of our nuclear programme.”

This was stated by Director General Strategic Studies Institute Islamabad (SSII), Dr Shireen Mazari.

She was speaking at a roundtable, “Global strategic environment and nuclear issues confronting Pakistan” organised by the SSII at the National Press Club (NPC) on Thursday.

Ms Mazari said Pakistan had a comprehensive nuclear command and control system and there was no problem in safety and security of the country’s nukes.

“Pakistan has the capacity for a second strike. We have the medium range tactical nuclear weapon missile system ‘Nasser’, which can be launched from a submarine to respond any nuclear aggression from the enemy.

“Nasser has the full capacity to counter the Indian cold start doctrine.”

She stressed the need to counter the propaganda spread by western countries to defame Pakistan’s nuclear programme and said the United States’ nuclear command and control system was not secure because of different incidents that took place in the US raising questions about the safety of its nukes.

She said in the fourth nuclear summit held in Washington, remarks on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons were not justified.

She criticised US President Barrack Obama’s statement on Pakistan nuclear programme.

She said western powers were involved in destabilising the Middle Eastern countries, including Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

“Now Pakistan and India need to focus and reach a mutual agreement, like the US and the Soviet Union had during the cold war to maintain peace and stability in South Asia. Maturity requires from India to start peaceful negotiations and reach a conclusion in this regard,” she said.

NPC president Shakeel Anjum said Pakistan was fully committed to making coordination on the sensitive issue of national security and promoting a national narrative on nuclear weapons.

Pakistan has always faced different challenges because of its unique strategic position in the region and significant importance in the global politics, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2016