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Transfer of 'nuclear button' to Gilani unlikely to make any difference | Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's sudden decision to hand over the 'nuclear button' to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is unlikely to make any difference, as it is the Army which has always controlled nuclear decisions in the country. Moreover, Zardari's
sudden move, which came just hours after the expiration of the special amnesty
(National Reconciliation Ordinance, NRO), is expected to complicate the AFPAK
strategy which is likely to be unveiled by President Obama on Tuesday. The Pakistan
Army has always maintained a tight clutch on country's nuclear establishments,
with top officers dominating the National Command Authority (NCA). Many of the
day-to-day operations, including those most of concern in Washington, concerning
nuclear security, are made in a small compound near the Islamabad airport by the
Special Plans Division, run by General. Khalid Kidwai, The New York Times reports.
General Khalid was appointed to the post by the then Army Chief General Pervez
Musharraf in 1999. "General Kidwai remained in place after Zardari took office
as the country's elected president. It also suggested that, save for the names
on an organization chart, little changed in practice," the newspaper said. Pakistani
officials also believed that the move would, which saw Gilani being handed over
the post of NCA chairman, would hardly have any practical effect. "Nothing changes
except that Zardari has removed one possible irritant with nuclear hawks," said
a Pakistani official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Although Zardari's
move is unlikely to harm Pakistan's nuclear stability, it is the political stability
of the country which is critical for the Obama administration, which is set to
announce its new strategy for the region in couple of days. "Pakistan is a central
part of that strategy, and the country has been under tremendous pressure by the
administration to step up its fight against militants from the Taliban and Al
Qaeda," observers said. The Pakistan Army had objected vociferously to the massive
US civilian aid for Pakistan (the Kerry Lugar Bill) announced months ago, the
fact Washington must be aware of and certainly keep in mind while working out
the new policy for the region. |
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