Pakistan continue to pursue policy of Minimum Deterrence: NCA

ISLAMABAD: After in-depth consideration and evaluation, the National Command Authority, decided that Pakistan will continue to pursue its policy of Credible Minimum Deterrence as a responsible nuclear weapons state.

The decision to this effect was taken by the National Command Authority (NCA) which met here on Thursday under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.

Members of the NCA including Federal Ministers, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Services Chiefs, Secretary NCA DG SPD, and other senior officials attended the meeting.

According to a press release issued here by NCA, the Authority comprehensively reviewed developments in the regional and global security environment.

The NCA also undertook detailed appraisal of the international and regional trends, policies and their implications for Pakistan.

The NCA expressed satisfaction at the security and safety of Pakistan's strategic programmes and facilities.

It also expressed confidence in the operational readiness of Pakistan's strategic weapons.

The NCA expressed concern over the continued pursuit of policies that detract from the globally shared norms and rules of equality, inclusiveness and objectivity.

The NCA cautioned that such policies represent regression in the non-proliferation regime and tend to erode the strategic balance in South Asia.

Pakistan would continue to take appropriate counter measures to ensure its security and to maintain regional stability.

The National Command Authority reiterated Pakistan's desire to constructively contribute to the realization of a world free of nuclear weapons and to the goals of non-proliferation on the basis of equality and partnership with the international community.

Accordingly, Pakistan was keen to join the four export control arrangements.

The NCA reaffirmed the importance of nuclear safety.

In this regard, it noted with satisfaction the safety review of all the existing and planned civil nuclear facilities by the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA).

The NCA directed the PNRA and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) to continue to ensure that our programmes conform to the highest levels of safety and international best practices.

The NCA was also briefed on the nuclear security review undertaken recently.

It expressed confidence in the institutionalized Command and Control System and comprehensive measures put in place to ensure reliability and security of strategic assets.

The NCA underlined that Government and the people of Pakistan stood solidly behind the country nuclear and missile programmes, which would be pursued to maintain effective, reliable and credible deterrence capability, and all attempts to undermine this capability would be thwarted with full force.

As part of the energy security strategy, the NCA also reviewed and approved the futuristic, self-sustaining Nuclear Power Programme 2050, to meet the existing energy shortfalls and to respond to the future requirements of a growing population and economy.

The NCA emphasized the need to focus on socio-economic development of the people as a priority.

The NCA also approved Pakistan's Space Programme-2040 in order to bring the benefits of the full spectrum of space technology to the people of Pakistan.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011