Pakistan on Sunday rejected National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon's concerns about the safety of its nuclear weapons and material, saying it had "impeccable" custodial controls for its strategic arsenal.
"Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state with impeccable credentials and custodial controls of its strategic assets," Foreign Office spokesperson Tehmina Janjua said in response to Menon's comments.
"We are mindful of our responsibilities in the context of global peace and security and in particular in our larger Asian neighbourhood," she said.
Janjua also noted that "Pakistan has made a sincere gesture in reaching out to India for promoting stability, peace and development in South Asia" and called for a "new mindset" to usher in an "Asian security architecture".
"It is important that all regional states live up to their responsibilities, on the basis of recognised norms and values to promoting an Asian security architecture with an enlightened approach. This requires carefully cultivating a new mindset," she said.
Addressing the Asian Security Conference in New Delhi on Friday, Menon had expressed concern about the "security of nuclear materials and weapons in those same parts of Asia".
Referring to a "growing security deficit" in Asia, Menon said: "There is increasing danger of terrorism spreading from those parts of Asia like Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have not been part of the Asian economic movement."
{{/usCountry}}Referring to a "growing security deficit" in Asia, Menon said: "There is increasing danger of terrorism spreading from those parts of Asia like Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have not been part of the Asian economic movement."
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