By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistan Thursday rejected an American daily report that US and Pakistani officials have begun behind-the-scenes talks aimed at achieving a greater US role in securing Pakistan’s nuclear materials.
American newspaper Boston Globe also reported there is a proposal to ship some of Pakistan’s highly enriched uranium to the United States for disposal.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit categorically said that details of Pakistan’s nuclear program are sacrosanct and cannot be shared with any country.
“These controls and procedures are as good as that of any other nuclear state,” the spokesman said at his weekly press briefing.
The US daily reported that if successful, the talks between nonproliferation specialists at the State and Energy departments and their Pakistani counterparts would mark a breakthrough in efforts to persuade Pakistan to accept greater assistance in preventing terrorists from obtaining nuclear fuel or the technology to build a nuclear weapon.
The Foreign Office Spokesman also rejected concerns about safety of Pakistan’s strategic assets.
“The country has foolproof custodial controls and safety mechanisms for its nuclear assets and the system is second to none. These controls and procedures are as good as that of any other nuclear state”
Commenting on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Washington yesterday, for transit trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the spokesman said under the MoU, agreement will be finalised by the end of the year.
He said both Pakistan and Afghanistan would negotiate to have new arrangements to replace the existing transit trade agreement signed in 1965.
Replying to a question he said the members of the diplomatic corps in Islamabad have been asked to adopt extra precautionary measures for their security.