No Pak nukes for Taleban

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No Pak Nukes For Taleban

11:54 am PST, 1 November 2001

Pakistan says its nuclear arsenal is under tight control of the military and is safe from the hands of Islamic extremists.The country's Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar, told a news conference in Islamabad today that Pakistan had an "impeccable record" of custodial safety and security for its nuclear material, equipment and technology.

Media reports have said Pakistani nuclear materials could have slipped into the hands of terror suspect, Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida network. There have also been unconfirmed reports that American and Israeli commando units were training to seize Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, to prevent it being hijacked by Muslim extremists.

Mr Sattar said the Pakistani government had a Strategic Force Command for each of the three armed services and there were clear chains of responsibility. Stringent measures were in place to minimize risks of accidental, unintentional, or unauthorized launch.

-- Swissrose (cellier3@mindspring.com), November 01, 2001

Answers

Let's hope so.

-- Swissrose (cellier3@mindspring.com), November 01, 2001.

This statement by Pakistan is credible, because of high tension with India, over Kashmir. Unfortunately, the conclusory implication that something bad is unlikely to happen does not follow. Intentional or "miscalculation" launch is the real danger.

URL: http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/nobyline-2001111114214.htm

November 1, 2001

India : Pakistan moving troops near border

NEW DELHI, India, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- India said Thursday Pakistan is moving its troops along the disputed border in Kashmir and in the northwestern desert state of Rajasthan. According to news reports, over the past two weeks, the Pakistani army amassed two infantry divisions and an extra-strength armored brigade 20 miles from Akhnoor Border in Kashmir. A similar build-up was reported from the Bhawalpur area facing Ganganagar in Rajasthan. "The Pakistan army has been put on a state of high alert, with cancellation of leave of personnel and officers and men stopped from attending specialized courses," the Press Trust of India quoted Indian defense officials as saying. Indian defense officials said they, too, have taken preventive measures.

Tensions between the two countries have increased since the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington. India wants the United States to include separatist groups operating in Kashmir in its ongoing war against terrorism. Pakistan, which is granting airbases and logistic support to Washington in its airstrikes in Afghanistan despite local opposition, does not. It regards the Kashmiri groups as freedom fighters. The two countries have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir and have regularly traded mortar and artillery fire since Sept. 11.

Copyright, Washington Post, UPI, Fair Use for Educational and Research Purposes Only

-- Robert Riggs (rxr.999@worldnet.att.net), November 01, 2001.


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