Pakistan’s nuclear arms secure, says US admiral

A top U.S. military chief on Monday said Pakistan's nuclear weapons are secure, as worried politicians in Washington seek to boost financial assistance to the Muslim nuclear state at war with Taliban fighters.

"I remain comfortable that the nuclear weapons in Pakistan are secure," the U.S. joint chiefs of staff Admiral Michael Mullen told reporters.

Asked whether the arms could fall into the hands of Taliban fighters seeking to broaden their control of Pakistan, he replied: "I don't think that's going to happen ... but it is a strategic concern that we all share."

Mullen’s comments echoed those of President Barack Obama, who last week also offered assurances about Pakistan's nuclear arms.

But according to the New York Times on Monday, the U.S. government is increasingly concerned about the potential vulnerability of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal faced with a surge of Taliban activity.

Citing unnamed officials, the newspaper said the Obama administration was worried about the potential for Taliban fighters to snatch a weapon in transport or to insert sympathizers into laboratories or fuel-production facilities.

But the United States does not know where exactly all of Pakistan's nuclear sites are located, and its concerns have intensified in the last two weeks, after Taliban fighters entered Buner, a district just 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the capital Islamabad, the paper reported.

I remain comfortable that the nuclear weapons in Pakistan are secure

U.S. military chief Admiral Michael Mullen

US assistance

Concerns in Washington prompted two influential U.S. senators on Monday to introduce a long-awaited legislation to overhaul and expand U.S. assistance to Pakistan in fighting Taliban and securing its nuclear facilities.

"The dangers of inaction are rising almost by the day," according to a summary of the legislation and its goals obtained by AFP.

The measure, proposed by Democratic Senator John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Republican Richard Lugar, the panel's ranking member, aims to triple U.S. non-military aid to Pakistan, bringing it to 1.5 billion dollars per year over the next five years, and advocates for extending the increase over the following five years, the summary said.

It also calls for conditions on U.S. military aid, saying Pakistani security forces must show they are "making concerted efforts to prevent al-Qaeda and associated terrorist groups from operating in the territory of Pakistan."

They must also show they are "making concerted efforts to prevent the Taliban from using the territory of Pakistan as a sanctuary from which to launch attacks within Afghanistan; and are not materially interfering in the political or judicial processes of Pakistan."

Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accused Islamabad of abdicating to the Taliban while President Obama expressed grave concern the government was "very fragile" and unable to deliver basic services.

Obama will present his strategy for defeating al Qaeda to Pakistan and Afghanistan leaders on Wednesday amid growing U.S. concern it is losing the Afghan war.

The dangers of inaction are rising almost by the day

Proposed US legislation to support Pakistan