US, UK against Pak nuclear programme, says Asif Yasin

Posted on December 29, 2012
The Frontier Post

RAWALPINDI (INP): Defence Secretary Lt General (Retd) Asif Yasin Malik on Friday said that the United States and Britain are against Pakistan’s nuclear programme and the CIA uses foreign agencies for its operations in Pakistan.

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Talking to media at the Defence Ministry here on Friday, Asif Yasin said that they had complete information of the CIA agents working in Pakistan. He said Pakistan has been informed by the US regarding presence of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents. He added that no country was allowed to work undercover in Pakistan. “The CIA also uses the agencies of other countries.”

The Defence Secretary said that the behavior of the US had been changed with Pakistan in the wake of dialogue that took place between the two sides after Salala check post attack and subsequent suspension of NATO supplies.

General Asif said there is no formal agreement between CIA and the ISI for secret operation. He said 95% of defence policy is made by the three defence services on the basis of mutual consultation.

Speaking about possible operation in North Waziristan, Yasin said that the operation in the agency could not be successful until sealing off the Pak-Afghan border. He however emphasized that the army has all the capacity to launch an operation in NWA.

He said negotiations were going on for the replacement of spy aircraft that were damaged at Mehran and Kamra bases.

He said that the defence ministry had no objection if the government took any action against former Army Chief General (Retd) Aslam Beg and former ISI Chief Lt General (Retd) Asad Durrani in the light of SC verdict in Asghar Khan case. He however said the Defence Ministry has received no communication from the Law Ministry for implementation of the Supreme Court order. He said when such a letter is received, they would proceed ahead.

He said that the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was in profit since September, 2012, adding that almost 200 employees including four pilots had been sacked for fake educational degrees. In addition, a list of 350 officials has been prepared who were appointed on the basis of fake degrees.

He said that no downsizing would be done in the airline on the basis of golden handshake or on any other ground.

“Government is working on a policy to get the PIA out of loss,” he said, and added that the PIA would purchase 12 planes including four new A-320 planes and eight small planes. He said an amount of $4.5 million has been released for the purchase of passenger planes. He said the PIA owes a loan of Rs152 billion while its overall deficit is to the tune of Rs192 billion. He said the airline suffered a loss of Rs410 million during Haj operation.

The defence secretary said that of the 34 aircraft fleet of PIA, 28 are operational. He said all the appointments on political basis have been banned and all the pilots and air hostesses would be graduate.

General Yasin said that former Deputy Chairman Saleem Sayani was appointed in 2009 against a salary of Rs5 million and his case has been referred to NAB.

http://www.thefrontierpost.com/article/199625/