Nukes safe as long as military exists in Pak: Zardari

Washington, May 6 (ANI): Dispelling fears about the safety of the nuclear arsenal of the country, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the country's nuclear weapons are in safe custody.

In an interview with a US television channel, Zardari ruled out threats posed by the militants to the nuclear weapons, as long as the military exists in the country.

Zardari also denied that there is an existential threat to the Pakistan's government.

"My life could possibly be under the threats of Taliban but the government of Pakistan is safe and sound," The News quoted Zardari, as saying.

He claimed that the military operations in the Swat and Buner regions have been successful, as the extremists have been flushed out of the area.

"We have completely uprooted Taliban from Buner and Swat," Zardari said.

Zardari also urged the United States to provide more financial help to curb the terror menace originating from its soil.

Pakistan Ambassador to the United States, Hussain Haqqani also ruled out any possibility of Pakistan's nuclear assets falling into the hands of the extremists.

"We have very good safety precautions and arrangements. And the American government knows that there is no threat of Pakistan's nuclear weapons falling into anybody's hands. The safety arrangements that are in place are known to both countries," Haqqani claimed.

Haqqani said Pakistan only acquired nuclear capability after it was achieved by India.

"We did not acquire the nuclear weapons to threaten the world. We acquired them because of the conventional superiority of our neighbour, India, with whom we have had disputes, which we are trying to resolve," he added.(ANI)