Pakistan needs nuclear deterrence, says US

[ameer219]

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Pakistan needs nuclear deterrence, says US

WASHINGTON: A person no less than the US military chief has conceded that Pakistan’s nuclear programme is different from those of Iran and North Korea because it makes ‘extraordinary efforts’ to protect its nuclear weapons while there’s no reason to trust those two countries.

US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen’s statement at a public forum in Aspen, Colorado, follows a meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group in New Zealand last week where the United States, contrary to media speculations, did not raise a Chinese plan to build two nuclear reactors in Pakistan.

“These are the most important weapons in the Pakistani arsenal. That is understood by the leadership, and they go to extraordinary efforts to protect and secure them. These are their crown jewels,” the admiral said.

Resuming US-Pakistan relations that had ended in the 1990s also was important in light of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, he said.

Dawn reported on April 29 that the US was unlikely to block the China-Pakistan nuclear deal, quoting a Washington think-tank, which observed that the US-India nuclear deal prevented the Obama administration from doing so.

But powerful newspapers like The New York Times and the Washington Post insisted that the US would raise the issue at the NSG meeting.

Admiral Mullen not only defended Pakistan’s efforts to protect its nuclear arsenal but also pointed out that the Pakistani programme aimed at deterring a perceived threat from India, unlike those of Iran and North Korea that Washington says would have destabilising affects around the world.

“I have raised this issue with the Pakistani military since Day 1,” he said. “As much as we are focused on this (terrorism) threat — and the Pakistanis are more than they used to be – they see a threat in India and (having nuclear weapons) is their deterrent. They see this as a huge part of their national security.”

As for efforts by Iran and North Korea to obtain nuclear weapons, Admiral Mullen described a different situation. “There isn’t any reason to trust (Iran),” he said. “There is an uncertainty associated with Iran that is very consistent with Iran for a long time.”

North Korea’s desire for nuclear weapons and its increasing aggressiveness were cause for concern, the US military chief said, adding that he’d put North Korea “at the top of the list” of nuclear proliferation concerns.

The Chinese plan for building two additional nuclear plants in Pakistan, however, was raised informally during the five-day NSG meeting but was not placed on the agenda, apparently because Beijing ignored all efforts to hold a public debate on this issue.

In a statement issued at the end of the plenary meeting, the 46-state group of nuclear exporters said it “took note of briefings on develop- ments concerning non-NSG states.

It agreed on the value of ongoing consultation and transparency”.

Pakistan is not a member of the NSG, which regulates nuclear trade and generally prohibits exports to nations that have not joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons outside the pact, as does India, which received a waiver from the export control organisation in 2008 and has since finalised nuclear trade deals with a number of NSG nations.

China, however, insists that any civilian nuclear trade with Pakistan would not violate its international commitments as it was only implementing an agreement it signed with Pakistan before joining the NSG in 2004.


DAWN.COM | Front Page | Pakistan needs nuclear deterrence, says US

[TOPGUN]

Awsome words said by Mullen and its acutally the truth.. thank GOD they are seeing it through.

[TaimiKhan]

Awsome words said by Mullen and its acutally the truth.. thank GOD they are seeing it through.

If he goes to India / Afghanistan or US, his statements would change and he will say something else.

A trait of his and Hallbroke.

[☪☪☪☪]

But sir this statement was not made in Pakistan rather in America - Besides Admiral Mike Mullen does not usually visit India regularly.You can't compare Admiral to dumbass Hellbrooke.Nevertheless Pakistan is going to remain a nuclear power regardless of what US Or other says.

[TOPGUN]

If he goes to India / Afghanistan or US, his statements would change and he will say something else.

A trait of his and Hallbroke.

Well something is better then nothng before they were againt us in this section its politics brother its life they all change there statments around to please the other party.

[khurasaan1]

I hope ...they do whatever they say....may Allah put them on right path...

[khurasaan1]

If he goes to India / Afghanistan or US, his statements would change and he will say something else.

A trait of his and Hallbroke.

great post brother...u exactly read their minds........

[ejaz007]

Pakistan needs nuclear deterrence: Mullen
Updated at: 1000 PST, Thursday, July 01, 2010

WASHINGTON: Pakistan believes that nuclear weapons are its “crown jewels” and a deterrent against India, a top US military official has said, even as he expressed deep concern over the safety of the nukes in the country.

He said that Pakistan’s nuclear programme is different from those of Iran and North Korea because it makes ‘extraordinary efforts’ to protect its nuclear weapons while there’s no reason to trust those two countries.

US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen’s statement at a public forum in Aspen, Colorado, follows a meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group in New Zealand last week where the United States, contrary to media speculations, did not raise a Chinese plan to build two nuclear reactors in Pakistan.

“These are the most important weapons in the Pakistani arsenal. That is understood by the leadership, and they go to extraordinary efforts to protect and secure them. These are their crown jewels,” the admiral said.

Resuming US-Pakistan relations that had ended in the 1990s also was important in light of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal, he said.

Admiral Mullen not only defended Pakistan’s efforts to protect its nuclear arsenal but also pointed out that the Pakistani programme aimed at deterring a perceived threat from India, unlike those of Iran and North Korea that Washington says would have destabilising affects around the world.

“I have raised this issue with the Pakistani military since Day 1,” he said. “As much as we are focused on this (terrorism) threat — and the Pakistanis are more than they used to be – they see a threat in India and (having nuclear weapons) is their deterrent. They see this as a huge part of their national security.”

As for efforts by Iran and North Korea to obtain nuclear weapons, Admiral Mullen described a different situation. “There isn’t any reason to trust (Iran),” he said. “There is an uncertainty associated with Iran that is very consistent with Iran for a long time.”

North Korea’s desire for nuclear weapons and its increasing aggressiveness were cause for concern, the US military chief said, adding that he’d put North Korea “at the top of the list” of nuclear proliferation concerns.

The Chinese plan for building two additional nuclear plants in Pakistan, however, was raised informally during the five-day NSG meeting but was not placed on the agenda, apparently because Beijing ignored all efforts to hold a public debate on this issue.

Pakistan needs nuclear deterrence: Mullen

[Chogy]

When a person says such things in a large, open, and public forum, he knows full well that he will need to remain consistent. He is not going to go to India and say the opposite. That would destroy any credibility he has, and a person at that level absolutely must retain credibility, or his words and statements become meaningless.

[forcetrip]

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They usually have different people saying things to cater to multiple audiences .. But not the same people saying different things. Welcome to the basics of diplomacy.