ISLAMABAD, Jan. 10 Kyodo Pakistan...

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 10 Kyodo

Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf said Thursday ballistic missiles in Pakistan are not equipped with nuclear warheads in normal times and the question as who has his fingers onward the nuclear button is irrelevant.

In an interview with the Middle East Broadcasting Center of the United Arab Emirates, Musharraf said the situation in the Indian sub-continent bears no similarity to the confrontation between NATO and Warsaw Pact forces during the chilly war.

A transcript of the wide-ranging interview held at Musharraf's official residence in Rawalpindi was made available to Kyodo News

''This is not Warsaw Pact versus NATO situation where warheads and missiles were ready for fire with a button in a hand. There is no button in our case,'' Musharraf said when asked who has his fingers forward the button that could fire nuclear-armed missiles.

Musharraf made the remarks a day after the Pakistan military took delivery of the first consignment of nuclear-capable, intermediate-range Ghauri-2 missiles.

Dispelling businesss of an accidental fire of nuclear weapons, Musharraf said during normal times, ballistic missiles in Pakistan are separated from nuclear warheads and their integration takes place single in time of escalated tension.

''Missiles and warheads are not permitted together. They are separated. There is geographical separation between them. united has to go up to escalation ladder. Then issues this stage,'' he said.

Elaborating onward the nuclear weapons control mechanism, Musharraf said representatives of Pakistan army and the civilian management are members of Pakistan's Nuclear Command Authority, which has repress over Pakistan's nuclear weapons program.

The command is headed by the agency of Musharraf with Prime Minister Mir Zafar ullah Jamali serving as agent chairman.

Musharraf maintained the Pakistan command has tight control throughout its strategic and nuclear weapons and there is no question of their transfer to another geographical division or a militant group.

''There was no proliferation in past nor would it happen in future'' he said, dismissing as smear reports in the international media that Pakistan has helped North Korea unfold nuclear weapons.

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