Pak to retain nuclear deterrence at all cost: Gilani

"We are determined to retain the nuclear deterrence at all cost while ensuring fail-safe security of our nuclear assets. No amount of coercion, direct or indirect, will ever force Pakistan to compromise on its core security interest," Gilani said.

Addressing a meeting of the top leadership of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, he said nuclear weapons are the "cornerstone of Pakistan's deterrence strategy and enjoy complete national consensus and support."

Gilani's comments came in the wake of a report by Fox News channel that the US has a detailed plan for infiltrating Pakistan and securing its mobile arsenal of nuclear warheads if it appears the country is about to fall under the control of the Taliban or al-Qaeda.

The channel quoted US intelligence sources as saying that such an operation would be conducted by the Joint Special Operations Command, a super-secret commando unit.

However, Gilani said Pakistan's "detractors" had launched an "orchestrated campaign" that expressed doubts about the security of the country's nuclear assets.

"The campaign has tried to link Pakistan's internal situation with nuclear security in an attempt to discredit Pakistan's nuclear capability. Disinformation is being spread deliberately to undermine Pakistan," he said.

Gilani said Pakistan had "developed and operationalised an immaculate nuclear weapons security regime which is multi-layered, has stringent access controls and incorporates modern technical solutions and rigorous human reliability programmes."

This security regime also "conforms to international best practices and has the capacity to meet all challenges," he said.

"No foreign individual, entity or state has been provided, or will ever be provided access to our sensitive information. Insinuations to the contrary are plain mischievous (attempts) and designed to create doubts in the minds of the people of Pakistan. I dismiss these with contempt," Gilani said.
Recent reports in the US and western media have quoted intelligence and security officials as expressing concern about the safety of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal in the wake of the Taliban expanding their influence in the country's northwest.