Govt vows no compromise on nukes amid IMF deal delay.

ISLAMABAD -- The premier and the finance minister asserted on Thursday that there would be 'no compromise' on the country's nuclear and missile programme and they are 'jealously guarded by the state'.

The statements from the top came amid concerns raised by some quarters after the visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) head to Pakistan last month and the government's failure to strike a deal with IMF to resume a stalled loan programme, which would offer a critical lifeline to avert an economic meltdown.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday noted that press releases, queries and various assertions regarding Pakistan's nuclear and missile programme were being circulated on social and print media.

Even a 'traditional routine visit' of IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi was portrayed in a 'negative spotlight', it said.

'It is emphasised that Pakistan's nuclear and missile programme is a national asset, which is jealously guarded by the state. The complete programme is totally secure, foolproof and under no stress or pressure whatsoever,' the statement said.

'It continues to fully serve the purpose for which this capability was developed,' it added.

In a tweet later in the day, the premier said that 'misleading speculations about Pakistan's nuclear and missile programme are unfortunate'.

'The stringent, foolproof and multi-layered security safeguards, duly testified by the International Atomic Energy Agency, are in place. Our nuclear programme represents the unwavering consensus of the nation and is for deterrence,' he said.

Similarly, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar told the Senate on Thursday there would be 'no compromise' on the country's nuclear and missile programme.

He was responding to questions raised by PPP Senator Raza Rabbani over the conditions set by the IMF.

'Let me assure you that [...] nobody is going to compromise anything on the nuclear or the missile programme of Pakistan - no way.'

Senator Rabbani had raised some questions on the reasons behind the delay in the agreement with the IMF, which would offer a critical lifeline to tame a balance-of-payments crisis.

The PPP leader lamented that the Senate had 'neither before nor today been taken into confidence on what are the conditionalities of the IMF'.

Describing the delay as extraordinary, Senator Rabbani sought to know if the delay was being made because of some sort of pressure on the country's nuclear programme or its strategic...

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