Home Muslim World News Time for world to recognise Pakistan as dejure nuclear power with equal...

Time for world to recognise Pakistan as dejure nuclear power with equal rights: PM

By NNN-APP,

Islamabad : Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Saturday emphasized that it is time for the world to recognize Pakistan as a dejure nuclear power with equal rights and responsibilities.

He also demanded that Pakistan be given a Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) waiver for civil nuclear energy cooperation as energy is a vital economic security need of Pakistan and nuclear energy is a clean way forward.

The Prime Minister was speaking to the troops, army and civil officers at the successful test firing of Short Range Ballistic Missile Hatf III (GHAZNAVI) and a Medium Range Ballistic Missile Hatf IV (SHAHEEN 1) at the exercise area.

Both missiles can carry conventional and nuclear warheads to a range of 290 kilometers and 650 kilometers respectively.

The field launches of the ASFC were witnessed by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Chairman Joint Chief of Staff Committee General Tariq Majid, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir, Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lt.Gen(Retd) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai and other senior military officials.

Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan is capable of providing nuclear fuel cycle services, under IAEA safeguards and this offer was also made last month at Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

The Prime Minister assured that his Government would continue to support the strategic programme and meet all its needs. There is now a need for the world to move on beyond safety and security concerns, he added.

He said that these concerns were laid to rest at the Nuclear Security Summit where Pakistan forcefully projected her forthright stance on the issue and the world expressed satisfaction at Pakistan’s nuclear security arrangements.

The two launches were conducted at the conclusion of the annual field training exercises of Army Strategic Force Command, which were aimed at testing the operational readiness of Strategic Missile Groups equipped with Ghaznavi and Shaheen Missile Systems.

The Prime Minister congratulated them on displaying a high standard of proficiency in handling and operating the state of the art weapon systems.

He said that the nation had developed a strong nuclear deterrence capability and expected that the officers and men entrusted with the task of deterring aggression would continue to train hard and maintain professional excellence.

He said that Pakistan’s Armed Forces were fully capable of safeguarding Pakistan’s security against all kinds of aggression.

On this occasion the Prime Minister announced one month pay bonus for the scientist and technicians who were working on Short Range Ballistic Missile Hatf III (GHAZNAVI), and a Medium Range Ballistic Missile Hatf IV (SHAHEEN 1).

He also announced Rs.five million for the welfare of personnel working on the operational and security side of these projects.