'Saudi Arabia seeking nuclear deal with Pakistan': Pakistan dismisses Sunday Times story

Pakistan on Thursday categorically dismissed as "mischievous" campaign against its indigenous nuclear programme by the international media that Saudi Arabia is seeking its nuclear weapons through a deal. "There has been an entirely baseless and mischievous campaign in the international media regarding Pakistan's indigenous nuclear programme. The Sunday Times story appears to be part of that malevolent campaign and is utterly unfounded," said Qazi Khalilullah, spokesperson for the Foreign Office while commenting on the media reports in his weekly media briefing.
He said that Pakistan has robust command and control structure and comprehensive export controls, adding that Pakistan supports objectives of non-proliferation as well as nuclear safety and security. "As a responsible nuclear state, Pakistan is fully aware of its responsibilities. Pakistan's nuclear progarmme is purely for its own legitimate self-defence and maintenance of a credible minimum deterrence," he said, adding that there was no Pakistan-Saudi nuclear deal under consideration.
The Sunday Times, in its report on Sunday, quoting unnamed US officials claimed that Saudi Arabia has taken the "strategic decision" to acquire "off-the-shelf" atomic weapons from Pakistan, risking a new arms race in the Middle East. When asked Saudi Arabia is a signatory to NPT like Iran and also has the right to peaceful nuclear energy under NPT, the spokesperson said that all parties to the NPT have the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy. This right has been granted to them by the Treaty. "It is, therefore, not for me to comment," he added.
To another question whether United States has conveyed any concerns related to Axact IT company, which is under FIA investigation for alleged fake degrees' business, the spokesperson said that no country including the US has conveyed any concern in this regard and the investigation is going on at the moment. On the Yemen issue, the spokesperson said: Pakistan is and will remain in touch with Saudi Arabia on the issue. He said that Pakistan has already expressed its concerns over shelling from Yemen on Najran in Saudi Arabia.
He said that about 15,000 Pakistanis were living in Najran and the Saudi authorities had been requested to ensure their security. He expressed the confidence that Saudi Arabia will make all possible arrangements for the safety of Pakistanis. About Pakistan's assessment of Prime Minister's Modi policies on completion of his one year at the office, he said that Pakistan was pursuing a policy of good neighbourly relations with all its neighbouring countries including India. He said that Pakistan desires peace and stability in the region and will continue to play its role in this regard. To another question about singing an MoU between Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Afghan intelligence agency National Directorate of Security (NDS), he said that the MoU signed with Afghanistan will be helpful in combating terrorism.