Nuclear weapons safe from Taliban: Zardari

Nuclear weapons safe from Taliban: Zardari

* President says parliament may reassess Swat deal
* Says whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden unknown
* Says Islamabad has will to fight terror, but needs international support

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday ruled out the possibility of his country’s nuclear weapons falling into the hands of the Taliban.

In a wide-ranging interview with local and international journalists, Zardari spoke about the mystery surrounding the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden, the Taliban clout in Pakistan and his own political future.

“I want to assure the world that the nuclear capability of Pakistan is under safe hands,” he said.

Zardari said the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden remained a mystery, and there was a suspicion that he could be dead. However, he said, “That’s not confirmed. We can’t confirm that.” He said US officials had told him that they had no trace of the Al Qaeda chief, and the same view was shared by his own intelligence agencies.

Zardari said the Swat peace deal was in line with ‘popular demand’ for a negotiated and political settlement of the issue.

However, he said parliament could reassess the situation after the Taliban extended their activities to other parts of the region.

He dispelled the impression that Pakistan launched the recent military operation in Dir under pressure from the US.

Zardari said he enjoyed a ‘trustful relationship’ with the military. “I don’t see (a military coup) possible at the moment.”