Danger to Pak nukes from terrorists; India worried

Jaswinder Singh Baidwan

Akhran da mureed
Staff member
New Delhi: India on Friday voiced concern over the "danger and threat" of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of terrorists and said it is closely monitoring the situation in the neighbourhood.

"Our only worry is that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is always in danger and threat of going into the hands of militants and terrorists.... We are closely monitoring the happenings around us," Defence Minister AK Antony said when asked about American media reports on Pakistan's nuclear stockpile.

"We know Pakistan is strengthening its nuclear arsenal. We are taking care of it. We are not unduly worried as we are capable against any threat," Antony told reporters.

The Defence Minister was speaking after felicitating an Indian Air Force (IAF) mountaineering team comprising 11 women officers who successfully submitted the Mount Everest on May 25.

On the preparedness of armed forces in the wake of developments in the neighbourhood after the killing of Osama bin Laden, Antony said, "Our armed forces will have to be vigilant round the clock.

"Especially after the bin Laden killing, our armed forces are closely monitoring everything and they are ever vigilant," he said.

On the possible link of Pakistani armed forces and terror outfits based there, the Defence Minister said, "Considering the present security scenario and the threat from terrorist outfits, our armed forces will have to be vigilant round the clock. That they are doing."
 
Top