Describing as a "hostile campaign" international media reports voicing concern over the safety of its nuclear arsenal, Pakistan on Friday insisted that "foolproof" measures have been put in place to secure the country's atomic weapons and there was no possibility of them falling into "wrong" hands.
The National Command Authority, which is responsible for managing Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, met for the first time since it was restructured on Thursday by President Pervez Musharraf, who assumed control of the organisation by issuing an ordinance.
The two-and-half-hour NCA meeting in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi, which was also attended by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro and the three services chiefs, reviewed all matters related to the nuclear arsenal and dispelled fears of the weapons falling into the "wrong" hands, Dawn News channel reported.
The meeting, chaired by Musharraf, said "foolproof security" arrangements had been made for the nuclear arsenal.
Taking note of what it described as a "hostile campaign in the international media" about the safety of the atomic weapons, the NCA advised against any one creating "irresponsible alarm" about its nuclear arsenal.
It also reviewed all projects related to the development of strategic capability, the channel said.
Musharraf tightened his grip on the nuclear arsenal by issuing an ordinance late on Thursday night that made him the head of the NCA.
The body was originally set up in February 2000 to address global concerns about the safety of nuclear weapons.
Under the original set-up, the chief of the NCA was the "head of the government" or the prime minister.
The new ordinance named the president as the chairman of the NCA and the prime minister as the vice chairman. It came two days ahead of the proposed lifting of emergency and appeared to be aimed at addressing fresh global concerns about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal in the wake of the political uncertainty in the country.
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