US, Pakistan had “candid discussion” about Nuclear weapons: Olson

Richard Olson, US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, has told US Congress that  the Obama administration has had a “candid discussion” about concerns including shorter-range nuclear systems.

“And Pakistan has been prepared to engage with us in those — in those discussions,” he added, affirming that Pakistan was well aware of the threats of extremism and insurgency to the security of its nuclear weapons. He also said Pakistan had a professional and dedicated security force to defend them.

“As with all nuclear-capable states, we have urged Pakistan to restrain its nuclear weapons and missile development,” he said, adding the Obama administration had also “stressed the importance of avoiding any developments that might invite increased risk to nuclear safety, security, or strategic stability.”

Pakistani officials have rejected such concerns as unfounded and maintained that the country was forced to make tactical nuclear weapons to counter India’s so-called cold-start theory.

Mr Olson, who was the US ambassador in Islamabad, said that while the US and Pakistan might not always see eye to eye, this relationship was vital to the national security of the United States. He also said that

“Pakistan will continue to be an important partner for the United States for the foreseeable future, particularly in light of our enduring presence in Afghanistan.”

Mr Olson acknowledged that Pakistan had reasserted their sovereign authority over North Waziristan. “Miramshah, which was the headquarters of, amongst others, the Haqqani network and the Pakistani Taliban — completely cleared. I’ve been to downtown Miramshah,” he said.

The lawmakers, however, claimed that since Sept 11, 2011, Washington had provided $30 billion in economic and military aid to a country they believed was still supporting terrorist networks.

Congressman Brad Sherman, a Democrat, asked Mr Olson to communicate to Pakistan the need to act like a true partner or someone in Congress would push for eliminating all US aid to the country.

But another Democrat, Eliot Engel, pointed out that Pakistan itself had suffered the most from terrorism and more than 50,000 Pakistanis were killed by terrorists since 2003.

Ambassador Olson said the Obama administration shared lawmakers’ concerns regarding – among other things – Pakistan’s madrassahs and their influence, but also informed them that Pakistan was addressing the problem as part of its National Action Plan.