Sunday, July 24 2005 10:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Apparently taking exception to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's concern over security of Pakistan's nuclear assets, President Pervez Musharraf yesterday night (July 23, 2005) said nobody had the right to "speculate" on effectiveness of his country's command and control structure which, he claimed was far more efficient than its neighbour's.

In a surprise move coinciding with the conclusion of Singh's visit to Washington, Musharraf presided over the meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA) and the Strategic Plans Division, the apex body that controls the country's nuclear weapons and programme, to take stock of the landmark visit of the Indian Prime Minister to the US.

Besides Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and senior Ministers, the meeting was attended by top brass of the Army and Chiefs of Navy and Air Force.

Without referring to Singh's recent remarks expressing concern over safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons if extremists seized power, Musharraf said, "No one had a right to speculate about the effectiveness and reliability of Pakistan's Command and Control structures, which predated those in its neighbourhood and were far more efficient, scientific and transparent."

He also said Pakistan would take all safeguards to maintain deterrence capability in the light of the India-US defence agreement.

"Pakistan is fully alive to developments taking place in its region and will take all necessary safeguards to ensure that its deterrence capability is maintained," an official press release quoted him as saying at the meeting.

Musharraf also claimed that Pakistan's nuclear deterrence was fully operational and continued to consolidate and strengthen with time.

His assertions were seen as a response to reports that India would be inducting US-made PAC-3, Patriot Defence missile systems, which defence analysts here said could drastically reduce the threat of Pakistan's missile systems against India.

Musharraf said it was not Pakistan's policy to engage in an arms race but it would not "close its eyes to induction of advanced weaponry in its neighbourhood."

"Pakistan stood for peace and harmony which was essential for the promotion of the Government's policy of economic growth and development but all necessary defensive measures would be taken," he said.

Significantly, Aziz in his presentation said Pakistan would take "appropriate measures" to obtain the benefits of nuclear energy in the light of the recent India-US agreement for civilian nuclear energy cooperation.

Aziz informed the meeting that Pakistan's rapid economic growth in the coming years will generate large energy requirements and that his Government had identified nuclear energy as one of the attractive and essential alternative sources, the press release said.

"In view of energy needs, Pakistan will engage with the international community to enhance its peaceful civilian nuclear programme," he said while the NCA took note of the recent Indo-US Nuclear and Defence Framework and decided on appropriate measures.