Our nuclear facilities are in safe hands: Sharif

Islamabad, Sep 5 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday reaffirmed that Pakistan's nuclear facilities are in safe hands.

The reassertion came after some media reports said the US has intensified its surveillance of Pakistan's nuclear programmes.

"Our nuclear facilities are in safe hands," Dawn reported Sharif as saying Thursday at a meeting of the National Command Authority (NCA) responsible for the security and safety of Pakistan's nuclear installations.

Media reports said the US has intensified its surveillance of Pakistan's nuclear programmes after the leakage of US classified documents by whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The meeting was also called to find solutions to the prevailing tensions at the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, and explore the effects of a possible US-led strike on Syria.

Others participating in the NCA meet included the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shamim Wynne, the three services chiefs and Foreign Affairs and National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz.

On Tuesday, the country' foreign ministry said: "Pakistan has established extensive physical protection measures, robust command and control institutions... to ensure safety and security of nuclear installations and materials."

The US welcomed Pakistan's pledge to protect its nuclear arsenal.

"The US is confident that the government of Pakistan is well aware of its responsibilities and has secured its nuclear arsenal accordingly," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said Wednesday.

"While there is room for improvement in the security of any country's nuclear programmes, Pakistan has a professional and dedicated security force that fully understands the importance of nuclear security," she said.

The Washington Post earlier reported that the US has ramped up surveillance of Pakistan's nuclear arms.

The State Department said the US recognised the fact that Pakistan was fully engaged with the international community on nuclear safety and security issues.

"We will continue to work together to find ways to cooperate to make Pakistan and the region more secure, stable and prosperous."