US engaged with Pakistan on tactical N-weapons: Olson

By Anwar Iqbal | 12/18/2015 12:00:00 AM

WASHINGTON: A senior US official has told Congress that the United States has held candid
discussions with Pakistan on its short-range nuclear weapons and Pakistan is willing to engage
with the US on this issue.
Richard Olson, US Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan, also told the House
Foreign Affairs Committee that the Obama administration was `not negotiating a one-two-three
agreement a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Pakistan.
`We`ve had a very candid discussion with the Pakistanis about some of the concerns that we
have, including about shorter-range nuclear systems. And Pakistan has been prepared to engage
with us in those in those discussions,` he added.
Mr Olson said Pakistan was well aware of the extremist and insurgent threats to the security of
its nuclear weapons and had a professional and dedicated security force to defend them.
`As with all nuclear-capable states, we have urged Pakistan to restrain its nuclear weapons and
missile development,` he said.
`(We also) stressed the importance of avoiding any developments that might invite increased risk
to nuclear safety, security, or strategic stability.
Pakistani officials reject such con-cerns as unfounded and say that the country was forced to
make tactical nuclear weapons to counter India`s so-called cold-start theory.
Mr Olson said that while the US and Pakistan did not always see eye to eye on every issue, this
relationship was vital to the national security of the United States.
Mr Olson, who was the US ambassador in Islamabad before he moved back to Washington last
month, said that despite many challenges, `Pakistan will continue to be an important partner for
the United Statesfortheforeseeablefuture,particularly in light of our enduring presence in
Afghanistan.
Mr Olson also urged US lawmakers not to overlook the significant progress made in the last few
years.
`During the past two years, we can point to progress, however imperfect, made across the
economic and security sectors,` he said.
Mr Olson acknowledged that Pakistan had reasserted their sovereign authority over North
Waziristan.
`Miramshah, which was the headquarters of, amongst others, the Haqqani network and the

Pakistani Taliban completely cleared. Pye been to downtown Miramshah,` he said.

The lawmakers, however, claimed that since Sept 11, 2011, Washington had provided $30 billion
in economic and military aid to a country they believed was still supporting terrorist networks.
The committee`s chairman, Congressman Ed Royce, alleged that Pakistan`s nuclear arsenal was
on track to become the third largest.
`Its addition of small tactical nuclear weapons in recent years is even more troubling. This is a
country which spends a fifth of its budget on the military ... but under 2.5 per cent on education,`
he said.
Mr Royce said that while Congress had withheld some military assistance to Pakistan because of
its concerns about the Haqqani network, the State Department was seeking more arms for
Islamabad, which might or might not be used against the militants.
But Ambassador Olson assured him that the US had `a very stringent end-usemonitoring` system
for its high-tech security cooperation with Pakistan.
Responding to a question, he also emphasised the need for better ties between India and
Pakistan.
`We hope the recent high-level talks between Indian and Pakistani officials and the
announcement of the resumption of formal dialogue will be used to reduce tensions and increase
ties between the two nations,` he said.
Congressman Brad Sherman, a Democrat, asked Mr Olson to communicate to Pakistan the need
to act like a true partner or someone in Congress would push for eliminating all US aid to the
country. But another Democrat, Eliot Engel, pointed out that Pakistan itself had suffered the
most from terrorism and more than 50,000 Pakistanis were killed by terrorists since
2003.Chairman Royce said he was not surprised to learn that Tashfeen Malik, the female
attacker in the recent San Bernardino, California, shooting, had studied at a Pakistani religious
school.
`Pakistan maintains an infrastructure of hate,` Congressman Royce said.
`Thousands of Deobandi madrassas funded with Gulf state money teach intolerant, hate-filled
rhetoric that inspires the foot soldiers of jihadist terrorism,` he said.
`Pye made three trips to Islamabad to press this issue. Pakistan must do the work to register
schools, and close those creating new generations of radicals.
Ambassador Olson said the Obama administration shared lawmakers` concerns but also
informed them that Pakistan was addressing the problem as part of its National Action Plan.

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