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'Pakistan n-programme in safe hands'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD FEB. 10. Pakistan said today that its nuclear arsenal was in safe hands and accused India of unleashing a "propaganda campaign" to defame it.

The Foreign Office spokesman, Aziz Ahmed Khan, said Pakistan had a "good" nuclear command and control structure and would not be dictated by outside powers on its nuclear programme.

Separately, the Pakistan Information and Media Development Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, said Islamabad took serious exception to the reported statement of the Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, Brajesh Mishra. India was indulging in a campaign to defame Pakistan as it was "upset" with the worldwide recognition earned by Pakistan for its anti- terrorism role.

"On the other hand, Indian terrorism against innocent Kashmiris has been exposed," he added.

Pakistan had always been acting in line with the U.N. Security Council resolutions and was part of the international efforts against terror.

"It is India which never considered the U.N. Security Council's resolutions for implementation and has been defying them," Mr. Ahmed said.

Despite a number of resolutions by the U.N. on Kashmir, India had not acted.

"The Kashmir movement is indigenous and this is an outcome of continuous denial of their right of self determination in accordance with the U.N. Security council's resolutions".

On Mr. Mishra's allegations about Pakistan's Al-Qaeda links, he said it was a "baseless" accusation as the people and leaders of the country came to know about its existence only after September 11.

"We have neither any links with them (the Al-Qaeda) nor they have roots in Pakistan."

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