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IAEA’s concern unwarranted: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan angrily rejected statements by the International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohammed ElBaradei expressing concerns for the safety of its nuclear weapons, calling them “irresponsible and unwarranted.”

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammed Sadiq also lashed out at what he called a “media campaign” by sections of the international media to “put Pakistan down” by raking up the safety of its nuclear weapons.

The spokesman said Pakistan had briefed the IAEA chief about the structure and control mechanisms that were in place to guard its nuclear weapons.

He said Dr. ElBaradei had gone beyond his U.N. mandate in making the remarks. “As head of IAEA, which is a U.N. body, he has to be careful about his statements which ought to remain within the parameters of his mandate.”

Asserting that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons were as secure as those of any other nuclear weapon state, he said “statements expressing concern about their safety and security are unwarranted and irresponsible.”

Dr. ElBaradei told the Arab daily Al Hayat on Tuesday that “I fear that chaos…or an extremist regime could take root in that country which has 30 to 40 warheads.” Pakistan has an estimated 50 warheads.

This is the first time that concern about the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons has been expressed by an official. Until now, such concerns have been expressed by politicians and think-tanks in the U.S. and in Europe, but not by a government and certainly not by the IAEA, the world’s nuclear watchdog.

The spokesman said Pakistan attached great importance to IAEA and had extended co-operation and assistance to it on any important issues.

An influential U.S congressman, Joe Lieberman, who is on a visit to Pakistan, told journalists that he was “impressed” by the country’s safety mechanisms for its nuclear weapons.

The Senator, an independent who backs the Democrats, said he had been briefed by Lt. Gen. (retd.) Khalid Kidwai, in charge of the Strategic Plans Division, which has overall control over Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

Mr. Lieberman also met President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mohammed Mian Soomro. The senator said Gen (retd) Musharraf had assured him that the February 18 elections would be free and fair.

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