DCM rebutts New York Time op-ed

"Continued insinuations not helpful:" says Pakistan Embassy

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (APP) "Continued insinuations and unproven allegations" of proliferation of nuclear material against Pakistan "do not prove helpful," Mohammad Sadiq, Deputy Chief of Mission, Pakistan Embassy, emphatically said on Saturday.

Mr. Mohammad Sadiq was responding to the recent op-ed published by the 'The New York Times' alleging Pakistan's involvement in nuclear proliferation.

While blaming the A. Q. Khan network of nuclear proliferation, the news report had claimed that Iran was provided with so called "advanced and efficient weapon components."

Mr. Sadiq said, the NYT's report is "inaccurate," and the Embassy has drawn the daily's attention towards "unsubstantiated accusation" against Pakistan.

He reiterated that Pakistan has smashed the A. Q. Khan international proliferation network. It was not a Pakistani network, he stated, adding it was a matter of common knowledge that it was an international network that was operating in several countries, particularly in Western countries , and people of several nationalities were involved in it.

The Embassy official said Pakistan has in place a sound and foolproof nuclear Command and Control system. The watchdog authority of Pakistan's national nuclear assets-Pakistan
Nuclear Regulatory Authority- was a highly capable body enforcing the highest non-proliferation standards.

He said, Pakistan, as a responsible nuclear state, has adopted laws that ensure that nuclear materials are not traded irresponsibly. The measures taken by Pakistan to safeguard its nuclear assets are widely acknowledged as the most advanced in the region.