Islamabad: Close on the heels of India's announcement of a nuclear command structure, Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on January 6 said Pakistan has an "effective and safe" nuclear command and denied charges of leakage of its nuclear technology to North Korea or Iraq.

Jamali's statement followed a hurriedly made "detailed" presentation of Pakistan's nuclear command structure by the military-controlled "National Command Authority" of Strategic Plans Division, the body which was believed to man the country's command structure. The briefing was also attended by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Foreign Minister Khrushid Mahmood Kasuri.

After attending the "special briefing" of Pakistan's nuclear command structure, Jamali said Pakistan banked more on a nuclear policy of "minimum Deterrence".

An official press release quoted Jamali expressing complete satisfaction over with the "effectiveness" of the Command and Control Structures of Pakistan's nuclear capability. He said that the structures, which have been in place for the last four years, were "well conceived, elaborate and have matured."

"The National Command Authority has ensured that while our nuclear assets and strategic forces were completely safe and secure, they continue to develop as per our Minimum Deterrence needs," he said.

Jamali described as "mischievously motivated" and "highly irresponsible" recent media reports alleging leakages of Pakistan's nuclear technology to North Korea and Iraq, saying Pakistan was a responsible nuclear power with "an impeccable record of safety and security".

PTI