This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7210946.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Pakistan nuclear sites on alert Pakistan nuclear sites on alert
(10 minutes later)
Pakistan has raised the state of alert around its nuclear facilities amid concerns they could be targeted by Islamist militants.Pakistan has raised the state of alert around its nuclear facilities amid concerns they could be targeted by Islamist militants.
But a senior military official said there had been no specific threat to the sites. But a senior Pakistan military official said there had been no specific threat to the sites, and insisted that safeguards in place were fool proof.
The official insisted safeguards in place at the sites were foolproof. The official was speaking in a rare press briefing on the issue.
He said there was no way the Taleban or al-Qaeda could take over Pakistan's estimated 50 nuclear warheads. It followed Western media reports warning that Pakistan's nuclear weapons could fall into the wrong hands.
In a rare briefing on the issue, the official told foreign journalists the weapons were protected by an elaborate command and control system, backed up by multiple levels of security. The Pakistani authorities have been angered by Western media reports speculating that the country?s nuclear arsenal could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda militants.
The senior military official briefing foreign journalists said that the weapons were protected by an elaborate command and control system, and multiple levels of security.
'No collusion''No collusion'
He acknowledged that Islamic militants had begun to attack army personnel in recent months, and that nuclear sites may also become a target.He acknowledged that Islamic militants had begun to attack army personnel in recent months, and that nuclear sites may also become a target.
But he dismissed the possibility of collusion from within the system, saying all personnel dealing with sensitive material had been carefully monitored. He said the state of alert around nuclear facilities had increased, but there had been no specific threats against them.
Pakistan's authorities have been angered by recent Western media reports speculating that the country's nuclear arsenal could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda militants. The official said there was no way the Taleban or al-Qaeda could take over Pakistan?s estimated 50 nuclear warheads.
Despite fears raised by American media and politicians, the Pakistani official said the US administration had not shown any recent concern about the safety of his country's nuclear weapons. And he dismissed the possibility of collusion from within the system, saying all personnel dealing with sensitive material had been carefully monitored.
He added that any foreign intervention over the issue would be disastrous for the intruder. Despite fears raised by US media and politicians, the official said the US administration had not shown any recent concern about the safety of Pakistan?s nuclear weapons.
He also said any foreign intervention over the issue would be disastrous for the intruder.