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Director General of IAEA Mohammed ElBaradei expressed concerns over the possibility that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal could fall into extremist hands1. Dr. ElBaradei stated that he feared that a war in the Middle East or in the Muslim world could have grave repercussions in Pakistan, more than in Iran. Pakistan expressed unhappiness over the remarks made by the IAEA chief. The Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammed Sadiq stated that the IAEA chief should “be careful about his statements and ought to remain within his mandate2.” He added that Pakistan was a responsible nuclear weapons state.
However, the diplomatic melee seemed to be blowing over by the January 11 with Foreign Office spokesperson confirming that the IAEA had informed the Pakistani Mission in Vienna that the IAEA chief’s remarks about nuclear security had been quoted out of context3.
- 1. “Atomic chief fears for security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal,” AFP, January 8, 2008, at http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYXpJN93zTFqVQAJexHtLPXVDmUw
- 2. “Pakistan hits out at UN nuclear chief’s concerns,” Khaleej Times, January 9, 2008, at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinen...
- 3. “Pakistan enjoys good cooperation with DG IAEA: Foreign Office,” Associate Press of Pakistan, January 11, 2008, at http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25995...