Islamabad:
The US State Department has denied the New Yorker story that it is in secret talks with the Pakistan army to secure the latter's nuclear arsenal.
A report by Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist Seymour Hersh has been rubbished by both Islamabad and Washington, but Hersh says he stands by his story. That America has been in secret talks with Pakistan's military to help secure Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
In a TV interview, Hersh has reportedly rejected the accusations that the story is false.
But the State Department has asserted that there are no plans to seize Pakistan's nuclear weapons and that the US has confidence in Pakistan's ability to protect its nuclear programs and materials.
In a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan the charges have been described as "completely false".
"These allegations are completely false. The United States has no intention to seize Pakistani nuclear weapons or material. Pakistan is a key ally in our common effort to fight violent extremists and foster regional security. We work cooperatively on a wide range of security assistance initiatives, including significant efforts focused on strengthening counterinsurgency capacities to foster stability. The United States has confidence in Pakistan's ability to protect its nuclear programs and materials, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during her recent visit to Pakistan," said the statement issued by U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson.
In his article in the New Yorker, Hersh claimed that the US was engaged in clandestine negotiations with Pakistan on safeguarding the latter's nuclear arsenal.
Excerpts from the article reads: "Current and former officials said in interviews in Washington and Pakistan that Obama's administration has been negotiating highly sensitive understandings with the Pakistani military. The ongoing consultation on nuclear security between Washington and Islamabad intensified after the announcement in March of President Obama's so-called Af-Pak policy."
Pakistan has described the report as absurd and mischievous. General Tariq Majid, Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff Committee clarified: "Absolutely no question of sharing or allowing any individual, entity or a state, any access to sensitive information about our nuclear assets. Pakistan's nuclear engagement is based on 'non intrusiveness' and 'our right to pick and choose'," he says.
Commenting on the question raised through an article called 'Pakistan Nuclear Security Plan: How much does US really know?', General Tariq responded, "Only that much as they can guess and nothing more".
A report by Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist Seymour Hersh has been rubbished by both Islamabad and Washington, but Hersh says he stands by his story. That America has been in secret talks with Pakistan's military to help secure Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
In a TV interview, Hersh has reportedly rejected the accusations that the story is false.
But the State Department has asserted that there are no plans to seize Pakistan's nuclear weapons and that the US has confidence in Pakistan's ability to protect its nuclear programs and materials.
In a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan the charges have been described as "completely false".
"These allegations are completely false. The United States has no intention to seize Pakistani nuclear weapons or material. Pakistan is a key ally in our common effort to fight violent extremists and foster regional security. We work cooperatively on a wide range of security assistance initiatives, including significant efforts focused on strengthening counterinsurgency capacities to foster stability. The United States has confidence in Pakistan's ability to protect its nuclear programs and materials, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during her recent visit to Pakistan," said the statement issued by U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson.
In his article in the New Yorker, Hersh claimed that the US was engaged in clandestine negotiations with Pakistan on safeguarding the latter's nuclear arsenal.
Excerpts from the article reads: "Current and former officials said in interviews in Washington and Pakistan that Obama's administration has been negotiating highly sensitive understandings with the Pakistani military. The ongoing consultation on nuclear security between Washington and Islamabad intensified after the announcement in March of President Obama's so-called Af-Pak policy."
Pakistan has described the report as absurd and mischievous. General Tariq Majid, Chairman, Joint Chief of Staff Committee clarified: "Absolutely no question of sharing or allowing any individual, entity or a state, any access to sensitive information about our nuclear assets. Pakistan's nuclear engagement is based on 'non intrusiveness' and 'our right to pick and choose'," he says.
Commenting on the question raised through an article called 'Pakistan Nuclear Security Plan: How much does US really know?', General Tariq responded, "Only that much as they can guess and nothing more".
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