ISLAMABAD, April 12: The National Command and Control Authority (NCA) on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over Pakistan’s strategic deterrence but noted with concern implications of the US-India nuclear agreement on the strategic stability in South Asia.

“The Foreign Office was genuinely concerned about US-India nuclear deal which would give India free-hand to maintain eight such nuclear stations which would be above any international inspection to give it cushion to produce significant quantities of fissile material and nuclear weapons,” said Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.

The NCA meeting held with President General Pervez Musharraf in the chair was attended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, ministers for defence and foreign affairs, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, services chiefs and senior scientists.

The meeting expressed satisfaction at the current state of Pakistan’s strategic deterrence, noting that the strategic capability was sufficient to meet current and future challenges.

The NCA, however, noted with concern that implications of the US-India nuclear deal on strategic stability in South Asia. In view of the fact that the agreement would enable India to produce significant quantities of fissile material and nuclear weapons from un-safeguarded nuclear reactors, the NCA expressed firm resolve that a credible minimum deterrence requirement will be met.

The NCA was satisfied at the expanded Pakistan-US framework of cooperation in diverse fields and deeper strategic relationship agreed upon during President George Bush’s visit to Islamabad and decided that the follow-up action for its consolidation should be expedited.

The NCA stressed that the energy needs of Pakistan, which include nuclear power generation, required international cooperation to meet its growing development needs and address environmental concerns.

The meeting resolved that Pakistan was determined to pursue this legitimate requirement under IAEA safeguards with members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, including the United States.