US expresses confidence in the safety of N-arsenals of Ind,Pak

Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, Dec 10 (PTI) The United States has
expressed confidence in the safety of nuclear arsenals of
India and Pakistan despite heightened tensions between the two
neighbours in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks by a Pak-based
terrorist outfit.

"Obviously, these are two nuclear powers. Whenever you
are dealing with terrorism in countries that are nuclear
powers, it is always -- it creates a heightened concern. You
know, obviously, the Pakistani government has enormous
challenges...financially, politically, from terrorists," US
Defence Department Spokesman Geoff Morrell said.

"...we want to work with them and any others who find
themselves in the situation, to make sure that their nuclear
arsenals are always secure. We see no reason at this point to
have any concern with regards to the security of either
countries' arsenal. So I think that's sort of where we are at
this point" he added.

The senior Pentagon official would not get into the
initial findings of the Mumbai attacks other than saying that
there has been no direct request for US military assistance.

"...to my knowledge there have been no direct requests
for US military assistance in really any of the efforts in the
wake of the tragic Mumbai attacks. It is clear, based upon the
fact you saw the chairman travel to both India and Pakistan
last week, that we take this problem very seriously and are
in close coordination, discussion, consultation with the
militaries in India and Pakistan" Morrell said.

"I'm not going to get into what our level of
discussions have been. I would suffice it to say that we are
working closely with the Pakistani military, as we have before
the Mumbai attacks. We are working closely with the Indian
military, as we have as well for some time.

"But there have been no direct requests for
assistance. We have channels and communication open, and are
prepared to assist them should they need our assistance. I'm
not speaking in terms of inserting troops, but of in terms of
providing any insight that we could help keep the situation as
calm as possible in the wake of these attacks", the senior
Defence official said.

"... we are engaged with the militaries in both
countries, as we always have been. You've obviously seen the
chairman (of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) spending a great deal
of time developing a relationship with General Kiyani, his
counterpart in Pakistan. He obviously has relations with his
counterpart in India.

"And that's, sort of, where we are at this point. We
obviously are -- are watching things closely and you know, I
think all, you know, are encouraging all the nations in the
region to work together to prevent any future attacks, such
as the, you know, the deadly one we saw over the Thanksgiving
week in Mumbai", Morrell said.

"... whatever action the Pakistani military is taking
against LeT, I'm not in a position to comment authoritatively
on it, other than to say, we're watching them, we see it as a
positive step, I think what all the problems that we have
emanating from Pakistan terror-wise show us, is that this is a
problem that needs to be dealt with on a sustained basis; that
it can't be done in fits and starts, that there needs to be a
constant and vigilant effort to go after the terrorist
networks that exist there and throughout the region" he added.
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