Pakistan has said that it has an effective emergency response mechanism, including a nuclear emergency management system, to ensure security of nuclear materials.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi said while addressing a dinner hosted by President Obama in Washington that a Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Support Center and a Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Coordination Center work round the clock to ensure safety.
He said nuclear materials must never fall into the wrong hands and this is a global concern, which Pakistan fully shares. He said radioactive sources are being employed everywhere in the private sector, hospitals, industry and research.
Fatemi said emergency preparedness and response constitutes effective deterrence against malicious acts and this requires significant training efforts, including those by nuclear security centres developed by various countries.
ENEMIES OF PAKISTAN ARE ENEMIES OF BRITAIN:
British Prime Minister David Cameron said during an unscheduled meeting on Friday with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi that the enemies of Pakistan will be viewed as enemies of Britain.
British National Security Adviser Sir Mark Lyall Grant was also present on the occasion.
The British prime minister expressed his profound grief and heartfelt condolences at the loss of precious lives in the recent terrorist attack in Lahore.
Cameron expressed full support and solidarity with the people and government of Pakistan in this hour of grief, and acknowledged the sacrifices being made by people and the security forces of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.
Recalling the remarks he had made at a press conference in Islamabad during his visit to Pakistan in 2013, Prime Minister Cameron reiterated that the enemies of Pakistan will be viewed as enemies of Britain. He pledged Britain’s continued support in strengthening Pakistan’s economy, and enhancing bilateral cooperation in security related matters, including intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism. He, in particular, stressed the need for further enhancing cooperation in the energy and education sectors.
Fatmi thanked the British prime minister for his expression of sympathy for the victims of the terrorist incident, and reiterated that terrorism posed a common threat to both Pakistan and Britain. He underlined Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s strong and unequivocal resolve to root out the menace of terrorism.
The British prime minister and Fatemi exchanged views on a wide-range of bilateral issues pertaining to Pakistan-UK relations. There was an understanding between the two sides that the high-level interactions between the leaderships of the two countries had contributed significantly in strengthening bilateral cooperation in a number of areas including trade and economy; regional peace and security; as well as countering violent extremism and terrorism.
The special assistant to PM highlighted prime minister of Pakistan’s policy of peaceful neighborhood and non-interference in the region, and reiterated Pakistan’s desire to build a constructive and trust-based relationship with all its neighbours. He stressed that peace in Afghanistan was vital for the peace and stability of the entire region, and enumerated Pakistan’s contribution towards facilitating an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process. He also outlined the various initiatives underway for greater regional integration and connectivity.
