NEW DELHI, Dec 2: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Monday echoed the fear expressed by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal could fall into wrong hands.

Vajpayee, addressing a meeting in Shimla, said that Russian concerns on the proliferation of Pakistani nuclear technology to militants needed to be taken very seriously.

“President Putin’s warning is serious and every country, especially those who support Pakistan must take note. There is a danger that weapons, especially mass destruction weapons, may be misused by terrorists. We must take note of this warning,” Vajpayee said.

Putin due to arrive in New Delhi from China on Tuesday, is to hold a summit meeting with Vajpayee on Wednesday.

Putin had told Indian journalists on Sunday that the exact nature of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme, and the location and status of their weapons of mass destruction had to be verified.

Putin said there were concerns that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists. “Pakistan’s weapons of mass destruction could fall into the hands of bandits and terrorists,” he warned.

Islamabad reacted strongly to Putin’s remarks. “No one should have any fear about our nuclear assets. They are under very tight control,” said the Pakistan foreign ministry.

The ministry’s statement also drew attention to Russia’s weapons, saying: “Moscow’s own system of safeguarding its nuclear assets, fissile material and sensitive technology is a matter of serious concern to the international community.”

MFN STATUS: Vajpayee said a delay by Pakistan in extending to India the Most Favoured Nation status was holding up economic cooperation in the region.

“Pakistan’s attitude in extending MFN status to India has been disappointing,” Vajpayee told reporters in Shimla before leaving for Delhi at the conclusion of his visit to Himachal Pradesh.

Press Trust of India quoted Vajpayee as saying that India had taken necessary steps to facilitate Pakistan extending the MFN status but there had been no response from Islamabad.

India has already extended the MFN status to Pakistan but Islamabad has said it would not reciprocate the gesture till the bilateral relations were normalised, PTI said.

India disagreed with the view that economic cooperation should not be augmented till a solution was found for bilateral issues.

“We must delink bilateral issues from steps to strengthen trade and economic cooperation in the region,” he said.