Israel's nukes most serious threat to Middle East: ElBaradeiOctober 5th, 2009 TEHRAN - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei has said Israel's nuclear arsenal is the most serious threat to the region, Mehr news agency reported. Tel Aviv has not granted IAEA inspectors access to its nuclear facilities for the past 30 years.
World powers seek 'serious response' from Iran on nuclear disputeSeptember 23rd, 2009 NEW YORK - Major world powers Wednesday said they expected a serious response from Iran to the international community's concerns over its nuclear programme when the sides meet for talks Oct 1. US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to keep up pressure on Iran and left open the possibility of further sanctions during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Russia, US say new sanctions against Iran possibleSeptember 23rd, 2009 NEW YORK - Russia and the US have agreed to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic efforts, but new sanctions still a possibility if Iran does not respond. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he and his US counterpart Barack Obama had given full attention to Iran's nuclear dossier at their meeting and that Russia was ready to continue cooperation with Washington on Iran's nuclear issue.
Taliban demands two million dollars in return of kidnapped Greek engineerSeptember 20th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Taliban has demanded a ransom of two million dollars and release of three of its Afghan leaders in return for a safe release of kidnapped Greek engineer Athanasius Lerounis. Former union council nazim Abdul Majid, who led a delegation to Afghanistan's Nooristan province for negotiations with the Taliban told media persons about the conditions set by the extremists for Lerounis's safe return.
Mushahid's claims on Pak nuke tests campaign had no basis: GoharSeptember 1st, 2009 LAHORE - Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan has rejected statements made by PML-Q leader Mushahid Husain in which he claimed that he had spearheaded a campaign in favour of conducting nuclear tests in 1998. Gohar said following India's nuclear tests, the then Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC), in its first meeting over the issue, had tasked the Foreign Ministry to interact with the media to find out what it thought about Pakistan following suit, adding that Mushahid's claims had "no basis".
No compromise on nukes: PakistanJune 18th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's nuclear weapons formed the cornerstone of its deterrence doctrine and would be retained at all costs, a top military commander said Thursday. "No amount of coercion, direct or indirect, can force us to compromise on this core interest," Online news agency quoted General Tariq Majid, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, as saying while addressing the convocation of the National Defence Course, Armed Forces War Course and Allied Officers War Course at the National Defence University here.
Indo-Pak water dispute could trigger a nuclear war: NizamiJune 7th, 2009 LAHORE - The water dispute between India and Pakistan could trigger a nuclear war between both countries, Nazria Pakistan Trust Chairman Majid Nizami has said. Addressing delegates at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Aiwan-e-Quaid-e-Azam at Johar Town, Nizami blamed India for cutting off important water supply routes to Pakistan by constructing dams on rivers in Kashmir.
Ahmadinejad says 'ready' to negotiate with USMay 29th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Friday reiterated that Tehran was ready to negotiate with the US but stressed that the talks should be held under "equal conditions". The Americans keep sending us messages for negotiation.
Ahmadinejad defends Holocaust remark, stance on WestMay 28th, 2009 TEHRAN - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Thursday vowed not to make any compromise with the West and defended his remarks against Israel and on the Holocaust. "We will never surrender to bullying powers, and those who think that we might make any compromise and give in to Western pressures and psychological war are badly mistaken," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in Tehran.
10,000 men guarding Pakistan's nuclear arsenal: officialMay 28th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - About 10,000 security personnel are guarding Pakistans nuclear arsenal and Western fears about the safety of the weapons are unfounded, a senior official has said. Air Commodore Khalid Banuri, director of arms control and disarmament affairs at the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), said that Pakistans command and control structure for the weapons was better than that of many other nuclear-armed states, and many countries had officially acknowledged this, DawnNews reported Thursday.
Fears about Pak nukes falling into extremists hands 'unfounded': General MajidMay 27th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Tariq Majid has said that the country's nuclear weapons are in safe custody and the world wide concerns about it being falling into the Taliban's hands are 'unfounded'. General Majid assured a US delegation here that Pakistan's nukes were absolutely safe and that there is an immaculate multilayered security arrangement guarding the country's nuclear assets.
Islamabad will give up nukes, if India does too, says Pakistani diplomatMay 23rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Stating that Pakistan's nuclear weapon is a "deterrent" against India, the country's top diplomat to the US Saturday expressed willingness to enter into an agreement with New Delhi to phase out all nuclear arms possessed by the two countries. Appearing on US television to make a public appeal to donate aid for the displaced people in the Swat valley, Pakistan's ambassador to the US Hussein Haqqani insisted that the nuclear weapons of his country are safe and there should be no concern about their security.
Pak would not provide nuke details to any country: GilaniMay 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Amid consistent demands from the international community for sharing details of its nuclear establishments, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that no foreign country would be handed over any details in this regard. "We are determined to retain nuclear deterrence at all costs while ensuring foolproof security of our nuclear assets.
Pakistan will never compromise on Kashmir: Sherry RehmanFebruary 12th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Kashmir still stands out as the core issue for Pakistan though it has cooperated regarding the Mumbai terror attack investigation, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman has said. Rehman told a private TV channel that without solving the Kashmir issue, peace in the region was impossible because it was the main issue behind India-Pakistan tension, Pakistan's Online news agency reported.
'Pakistan to review options if Obama not positive'January 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD - Pakistan said Wednesday it would review its options if the Barack Obama administration didn't adopt a positive policy toward the country, even as the new US president said aid to Pakistan would be linked to the war against terror. 'Pakistan hopes that Obama will be more patient while dealing with Pakistan.
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