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Summary The Foreign Office said there would be no compromise over Pakistans nuclear programme.
According to the FO spokesperson, the prime minister heads the National Command Authority as all the powers belong to parliament under the 18th amendment.The National Command Authority (NCA) consists of the Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Finance as well as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the three Services Chiefs, and is now headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Strategic Plans Division of the National Command Authority is headed by the Director General, who also serves as the Secretary of the NCA.Besides, the NCA and the Strategic Plans Division, there are also the Strategic Forces Command. These well-established institutional mechanisms are responsible of managing Pakistans strategic assets and programmes. We have effective custodial controls. The spokesperson further stated that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state. The National Command Authority meets frequently to review all matters relating to strategic programmes and provide direction for upgrading of our strategic programme to suit Pakistans defence requirements. Our policy of maintaining credible minimum deterrence will be maintained. Under no circumstances can this national programme, which is integral to Pakistans defence, be compromised, she said in a statement.The Government, the Armed Forces and above all the people of Pakistan are absolutely committed to this objective, she said, adding that the insinuations made against the President in the aforementioned remarks are baseless and strongly refuted.
