Pakistan nuke assets in safe hands: Admiral Mullen

Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) has said that he believes Pakistans nuclear assets are in safe hands, and that the United States harbours no hopes establishing a military presence in this country.

Islamabad, Feb.10 : Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) has said that he believes Pakistan's nuclear assets are in safe hands, and that the United States harbours no hopes establishing a military presence in this country.

"Pakistan is a sovereign country and this is a sacred trust for the people of the United States. The US understands that in no shape or form will the US attack Pakistan," Admiral Mullen told reporters here on Saturday.

We would respect Pakistan's sovereignty and assist when asked," The News and Dawn quoted Admiral Mullen, as saying during his first three-day official visit to Pakistan.

Mullen met President Pervez Musharraf, General Tariq Majeed, the Chairman of the Pakistan Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and the chief of the Strategic Planning Division, Lt-Gen (retired) Khalid Kidwai.

He described his meetings on Saturday as 'valuable' and was certain that Pakistan remained focused on the war against terror.

Responding to criticism in Washington that military assistance in

"I am comfortable that the money (U.S. aid to Pakistan) has been spent in the right quarters," he said.

He said there was realisation in both countries that the threat from extremists was going up and this threat was not likely to go away soon.

"I am going back to Washington quite satisfied," he said, adding that both countries would have to work hard to build the partnership to improve the fight against terrorism.

ANI