US seeks direct access to Pak's nuke arsenal

[Goodperson]

US seeks direct access to Pak's nuke arsenal

Watch: US seeks direct access to Pak's nuke arsenal


ISLAMABAD: Amid western concerns about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, the United States has sought direct access to the body controlling the country's nuclear assets.

The US has asked for an American official to be posted at its embassy here.

The US State Department sent a proposal to the Pakistan government after a set of 11 demands dispatched earlier by Washington to Islamabad regarding the deployment of American military personnel in the country, were refused by Pakistani authorities.

The latest request from Washington had suggested that the official who would be permanently posted in the US embassy here to deal with nuclear issues should have direct access to the National Command Authority (NCA) Secretariat, The News reported on Monday.

The earlier request had wanted American citizens sent by the US government to be treated above Pakistan's national law.

Leading security analyst Shireen Mazari, the head of the Institute of Strategic Studies, said this latest move by the US was "perhaps the most dangerous effort at intruding into Pakistan's sensitive areas in the ongoing effort to gain direct access to nuclear-strategic matters".

The new request has come at a time when senior US officials who recently visited Pakistan had expressed satisfaction over the safety and security of Pakistan's nuclear assets, the report said.

US embassy spokesperson Elizabeth Colton did not reject the US proposal outright but told the paper: "We are in touch with all elements of the Pakistan government all the time. But we do not publish or discuss details of our diplomatic discussions and assignments."

Mazari said the new proposal was made through verbal contact via an assistant secretary-level official.

"This proposal, again, was not routed through either the foreign or defence ministries but a direct approach was made to the NCA.

"Apparently, so far Pakistan has not given any response but it would be quite appropriate to be concerned about such a US move, especially since transparency is not available at our end on such issues," she said.

Defence analyst Lt Gen (retired) Talat Masood said this was an "outright interference" in Pakistan's affairs.

US seeks direct access to Pak's nuke arsenal-Pakistan-World-The Times of India

 

[IceCold]

Damag kharab ho gaya ha US ka bc.

 

[never]

when ask about the 11 points the us embassy said they gave no credibility to this report. so they are lying

 

[T-Rex]

Pakistan should make it clear that this kind of demands are unacceptable and if it continues Pakistan should break diplomatic ties with the US. If the US thinks that it has the right to gain access to the Pak nuclear facilities then the world community also has the right to gain access to the US, Israeli and British nuclear facilities.

 

[haviZsultan]

Pakistan should make it clear that this kind of demands are unacceptable and if it continues Pakistan should break diplomatic ties with the US. If the US thinks that it has the right to gain access to the Pak nuclear facilities then the world community also has the right to gain access to the US, Israeli and British nuclear facilities.

Agreed but who will tell this godamn bulldog of a nation America to stop their madness?

 

[kidwaibhai]

i dont think that our people are that stupid that they will allow this. the pakistani army and the politicians have stuck by their guns and not allowed any american action inside FATA so i think that this is one place that i am happy cauz i know that the army wont allow this to happen.

 

[T-Rex]

Agreed but who will tell this godamn bulldog of a nation America to stop their madness?

The Pakistani politicians have to tell this to the Americans and not behind the closed doors but in front of the whole nation so that it will be on record. In front of the public the US will not dare or be stupid enough to apply its threat tactics for if they do so it will only make it more isolated and more vulnerable.

 

[mujahideen]

The Pakistani politicians have to tell this to the Americans and not behind the closed doors but in front of the whole nation so that it will be on record. In front of the public the US will not dare or be stupid enough to apply its threat tactics for if they do so it will only make it more isolated and more vulnerable.

We have told them in public. But behind closed doors is what matters. President Musharraf has always threatened the Americans on this issue but behind closed doors what happens no one knows. So I am sorry but with all due respect I disagree with you, closed doors is more important then the public.