US Centcom chief confident of Pakistan's nuclear security procedures.

ISLAMABAD -- US Central Command (Centcom) Commander General Michael E Kurilla has expressed confidence in the command-and-control structure of Pakistan's nuclear programme amid political turmoil and fear of an economic meltdown in the South Asian nation.

'I am confident in their nuclear security procedures,' the Centcom chief said during his appearance before the US Senate Arms Services Committee.

A committee member had spoken about the political issues in Pakistan and sought to know the assessment of the Centcom chief.

'I deal with the military relationship there and I have a great relationship with the Chief of the Army Staff, General Munir,' General Kurilla said, adding: 'I think the concerns right now in Pakistan are their budget, their financial situation, the current political situation and the counterterrorism situation.'

He also mentioned the resurgence of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The comments by the US general came after Finance Minister Ishaq Dar last week's statement about Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme in the Senate.

Dar had said that Pakistan would not compromise on its nuclear programme for reviving the stalled International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan facility.

The finance minister was responding to Senator Raza Rabbani's concerns that he raised during a Senate session, wherein he asked whether the IMF programme was being delayed to force the government into resorting to moves that were against state interests.

"I believe in transparency and fiscal discipline [...] let me assure you that nobody is [ready] to compromise on the nuclear or missile programme of Pakistan. No way!" he had stressed.

The Foreign Office last week had also denied...