Pakistan’s
ability to safeguard its nuclear assets remains unaffected by some
recent acts of terrorism in the South Asian country country, according
to a senior U.S. defense official. The
official was answering a question in a media interaction in the
backdrop of this week’s deadly militant attack at a Pakistani naval
base in Karachi.“We have not seen any evidence or reason to question Pakistan’s ability to safeguard its nuclear assets,” said the official.The senior defense official’s remarks reaffirmed Washington’s confidence in Islamabad’s steps for nuclear safety.The
United States has strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks in
Pakistan, saying these underscore the need for the two countries to
work together against the common threat.
In the media interaction, the
defense official took issue with a recent American newspaper
characterization of differences over claims made under Coalition Support
Funds for Pakistan. The CSF payments are reimbursements for the money
Pakistan spends in the prosecution of fight against militants along the
Afghan border.
“It is inaccurate to say that the United States was using the CSF as political tool,” the official said, commenting on a recent report in The Wall Street Jounral on the issue.
“That is absoloutely not the case,” the official stressed.He clarified the requirements that the United States meets before making payments are the same for all countries that receive money under the CSF and these are not at all Pakistan-specific.
The United States follows a deliberate and transparent process of evaluation of the claims - at the levels of embassy, the Central Command, and the Pentagon - in the light of guidelines laid by the Government Accountability Office in June 2008.
The official also explained that claims made by Pakistan in the last two years soared partly due to the fact that the country launched operations in Swat and South Waziristan.
Under the CSF programme, reimbursements are made to Pakistan and several other cooperating nations in the fight against terrorism, for logistical,military, and other support provided by these nations in support of the Afghan mission. Since 2002, the Department of Defense has approved more than $ 8 billion in CSF remibursements to Pakistan.
The official said the United States’ evaluation process and denial of some claims does not mean that Pakistan is making false claims but that some of the things are not covered under the CSF. Officials from both countries have regular dialogue on the issues. In a broader perpsective, the official acknowledged that strains developed in the US- Pakistan relations in the wake of May 2 American action that took out Osama bin Laden from his hideout in Abbottabad.
Islamabad strongly objected to the unilateral action on its soil while in Washington some Congressmen have raised questions about bin Laden’s discovery in the country.
But the U.S. official felt the two sides needed to move on, recognizing the need to work together against the threat posed by violent extremism.
The two countries, the official noted, need to continue the anti-militant progress they have made over the years. APP
“It is inaccurate to say that the United States was using the CSF as political tool,” the official said, commenting on a recent report in The Wall Street Jounral on the issue.
“That is absoloutely not the case,” the official stressed.He clarified the requirements that the United States meets before making payments are the same for all countries that receive money under the CSF and these are not at all Pakistan-specific.
The United States follows a deliberate and transparent process of evaluation of the claims - at the levels of embassy, the Central Command, and the Pentagon - in the light of guidelines laid by the Government Accountability Office in June 2008.
The official also explained that claims made by Pakistan in the last two years soared partly due to the fact that the country launched operations in Swat and South Waziristan.
Under the CSF programme, reimbursements are made to Pakistan and several other cooperating nations in the fight against terrorism, for logistical,military, and other support provided by these nations in support of the Afghan mission. Since 2002, the Department of Defense has approved more than $ 8 billion in CSF remibursements to Pakistan.
The official said the United States’ evaluation process and denial of some claims does not mean that Pakistan is making false claims but that some of the things are not covered under the CSF. Officials from both countries have regular dialogue on the issues. In a broader perpsective, the official acknowledged that strains developed in the US- Pakistan relations in the wake of May 2 American action that took out Osama bin Laden from his hideout in Abbottabad.
Islamabad strongly objected to the unilateral action on its soil while in Washington some Congressmen have raised questions about bin Laden’s discovery in the country.
But the U.S. official felt the two sides needed to move on, recognizing the need to work together against the threat posed by violent extremism.
The two countries, the official noted, need to continue the anti-militant progress they have made over the years. APP
