Pak nukes won't fall into terrorists' hands, says expert - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Pakistani nuclear assets cannot fall in terrorists' hands, as they are protected by a strong command and control system, an expert on South Asian nuclear affairs has said. Naeem Salik, author of the recently published book "The Genesis of South Asian Nuclear Deterrence - Pakistan's Perspective", termed frequent media stories on concerns about Pakistani nuclear security as "far-fetched". Addressing an audience of experts, diplomats and academics at Johns Hopkins University, Salik said that such misleading reports try to connect some incidents of terrorism in the country to nuclear safety in order to invoke concerns Salik said some of the media accounts reflect sheer lack of information and understanding about the country's safety measures, while others appear to be part of a deliberate propaganda campaign. The retired brigadier, who has been closely associated with Pakistan' Strategic Plans Division, spoke as US National Security Adviser and Defense Secretary voiced confidence in the safety of nuclear weapons in Pakistan, which is fighting militants in its areas close to the Afghan border.