ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top army generals on Tuesday discussed the security of its nuclear arsenal at the Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi, the military’s media wing, ISPR, said in a statement, adding they observed that the country had taken all necessary measures to keep its strategic assets safe and secure.
The conference was held only a few days after US President Joe Biden told the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Reception that Pakistan was “one of the most dangerous nations in the world” whose nuclear weapons were “without any cohesion.”
Pakistan holds about 100–120 nuclear weapons, which can be delivered by aircraft and land-based missiles.
Of the world’s nine nuclear-armed countries, India and Pakistan are among a handful that have been increasing their nuclear warhead stockpiles, according to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).
“As a responsible nuclear weapon state, Pakistan has taken all measures necessary to strengthen its nuclear security regime, at par with international best practices,” the ISPR said after the gathering.
“The forum reposed full confidence in Pakistan’s robust nuclear command and control structure and security arrangements related to the country’s strategic assets,” the statement continued.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif already rejected President Biden’s remarks recently and termed them “factually incorrect and misleading.”
On Monday, the State Department spokesperson said the US had confidence in Pakistan’s ability to control its nuclear arsenal.
“The United States is confident of Pakistan’s commitment and its ability to secure its nuclear assets,” Vedant Patel, the spokesman, said during a media briefing.
“The US has always viewed a secure and prosperous Pakistan as critical to its interests,” he continued. “And more broadly, the US values our longstanding cooperation with Pakistan.”
Pakistan and the US have worked with each other in a number of fields since the former’s independence in August 1947, though there were phases when their relations also came under tremendous strain during these years.
