PM Shehbaz Sharif says misleading speculations about Pakistan’s nuclear program are unfortunate

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says the misleading speculations about Pakistan’s nuclear and missile program are unfortunate.

He said the stringent, fool-proof and multi-layered security safeguards, duly testified by IAEA, are in place. The Prime Minister said our nuclear program represents the unwavering consensus of the nation and is for deterrence.

Meanwhile,the Pakistan government has made it categorically clear that Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programme was “totally secure, foolproof and under no stress or pressure, whatsoever.”

“Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programme is a national asset, which is jealously guarded by the State. Complete programme is totally secure, foolproof and under no stress or pressure, whatsoever,” said a statement issued by Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The statement noted that press releases, queries and various assertions regarding Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programme were being circulated on social and print media. It said that even a “traditional routine visit” of International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi was portrayed in a “negative spotlight”.

The government said that the programme continued to fully serve the purpose for which this capability was developed. It is pertinent to mention here that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General (DG) Rafael Mariano Grossi visited Pakistan in February to discuss matters related to the Pakistan-IAEA collaboration. This was Grossi’s maiden visit to Pakistan after assuming office in 2019.