Only National Command Authority has right to comment on strategic programmes: CJCSC

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Nadeem Raza on Monday asked people not to comment on Pakistan’s nuclear programme.

The military official was speaking at a seminar titled ‘Regional Environment and Imperatives of Security’ at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad.

Among the participants were students, academics and distinguished experts from different parts of the country.

In his speech, General Raza reiterated the significance of Pakistan’s nuclear capability as the guarantor of deterrence and defense of the motherland.

During the speech, he said that people should avoid baseless and unnecessary comments. He also said that Pakistan was a responsible and confident nuclear country and its policy was very clear related to its nuclear programme.

General Raza added that the policy was in line with the national and international mechanisms.

He said, “Pakistan is a confident and responsible nuclear power. It pursues the policy of full spectrum deterrence within the precincts of credible minimum deterrence. Our national security and safety architecture meets all national and international obligations and caters for all kinds of scenarios.”

The CJCSC further said, “As a norm in other nuclear-capable nations, unnecessary and unfounded views on the strategic program should be avoided. When necessary, NCA is the right forum to issue specific responses or views.”

He also said that Pakistan was fully capable of defending its homeland and integrity, adding that there was support for the nuclear programme from political parties and masses.

He further said that Pakistan would never compromise on its nuclear programme and civil and military leadership was in full support of the strategic programme of the country.

These statements come after former prime minister Imran Khan said in one of his speeches that if the ‘establishment’ was not going to take the right decision, the country would be divided into three parts and that the nuclear programme was in grave danger.