Nov 14 , 2015
News
Army satisfied with security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets
* COAS says nuclear security is a sacred responsibility and Pakistan has taken several measures to strengthen its capability on this frontRAWALPINDI: Chief Of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Friday paid a visit to Pakistan’s Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Security (PCENS) and expressed confidence over the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
“Pakistan has taken measures, including setting up of the PCENS, to strengthen its nuclear security,” said the COAS.
Interacting with officers and troops at the PCENS, the army chief said that nuclear security is a sacred responsibility. He lauded the progress the institution had made since its establishment. “I am glad to see that it has instilled as a culture and the progress made in the recent past is praiseworthy.”
The army chief witnessed the state-of-the-art facilities and ongoing training activities at the PCENS.
The army chief was received by Lieutenant-General Mazhar Jamil, Director General of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD).
Pakistan has also offered the PCENS as a regional and international hub for imparting education and training in the field of nuclear security to the international community.
Since its establishment, PCENS has conducted several national and international training courses focusing on physical protection, personal reliability as well as safety and security of nuclear and radioactive materials and facilities.
Earlier in September, Director General (DG) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano praised Pakistan’s impressive nuclear security record. He had stated that Pakistan attached the highest priority to nuclear safety and security as a national responsibility and that all of Pakistan’s nuclear power plants and research reactors were under IAEA safeguards, adding that Pakistan was fully meeting its obligations in this regard.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also stated in September that Pakistan would continue to maintain minimum nuclear deterrence for security purposes, but that these weapons are ‘not against any one”.
The National Command Authority (NCA) has stated that Pakistan as a responsible nuclear state will remain actively engaged with the international community on nuclear stability and security issues, and expressed satisfaction on Pakistan’s enhanced outreach with the multilateral export control regimes.
According to reports published by two American think tanks, Pakistan could become the third largest nuclear stock pile within the next five to 10 years ? with at least 350 nuclear weapons ? behind only the United States and Russia.
The report cited analysts as saying that Pakistan possessed around 120 nuclear warheads as compared to India’s 100. The report concluded by saying that Pakistan could have at least 350 nuclear weapons within five to 10 years.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk