<p>"The situation in Pakistan is troubling from a lot of perspectives," Stephen Hadley, who now advises Washington- based think-tank the US Institute of Peace said.<br /><br />"There is a lot of concern about what happens to Pakistan's nuclear weapons if the government fragments in some way," he said yesterday at an international security conference in Halifax.<br /><br />Hadley said there was concern in the Bush administration after the September, 2001 terrorist attack that US-led military action inside Afghanistan might destabilise Pakistan and could even lead to a Taliban government.<br /><br />"So far that hasn't happened, and Pakistan's nuclear weapons remain firmly in the control of the established civilian government," Hadley was quoted as saying by media reports here.<br /><br />He said the US has assisted Pakistan since 9/11 in maintaining legitimate command and control efforts over its arsenal.<br /><br />"Whenever we checked with our military and intelligence people, we said, 'Is this a nuclear arsenal at risk?' The answer so far has always been, 'No,'" Hadley said. <br /><br />"And we have now a democratic government in Pakistan that is really revitalising their effort against the Taliban. They see it now for what it is — a strategic threat to the stability of that democracy," Hadley said.<br /><br />He said while in the last eight years all stakeholders have done "pretty well" in managing the affairs.<br /><br />"Yet it remains a risk that circumstances could rapidly change, he added.</p>
<p>"The situation in Pakistan is troubling from a lot of perspectives," Stephen Hadley, who now advises Washington- based think-tank the US Institute of Peace said.<br /><br />"There is a lot of concern about what happens to Pakistan's nuclear weapons if the government fragments in some way," he said yesterday at an international security conference in Halifax.<br /><br />Hadley said there was concern in the Bush administration after the September, 2001 terrorist attack that US-led military action inside Afghanistan might destabilise Pakistan and could even lead to a Taliban government.<br /><br />"So far that hasn't happened, and Pakistan's nuclear weapons remain firmly in the control of the established civilian government," Hadley was quoted as saying by media reports here.<br /><br />He said the US has assisted Pakistan since 9/11 in maintaining legitimate command and control efforts over its arsenal.<br /><br />"Whenever we checked with our military and intelligence people, we said, 'Is this a nuclear arsenal at risk?' The answer so far has always been, 'No,'" Hadley said. <br /><br />"And we have now a democratic government in Pakistan that is really revitalising their effort against the Taliban. They see it now for what it is — a strategic threat to the stability of that democracy," Hadley said.<br /><br />He said while in the last eight years all stakeholders have done "pretty well" in managing the affairs.<br /><br />"Yet it remains a risk that circumstances could rapidly change, he added.</p>
