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Pak has 'enough nuke bombs'

''Pakistan has enough nuclear weapons to destroy the enemy in case of aggression,'' the architect of the country's atomic bomb, Abdul Qadir Khan said today.

''Pakistan's defence is invincible... I don't see any need to further waste our hard-earned income to develop more strategic arms,'' the independent news agency, News Network International quoted Dr Khan as saying.

''We already have developed very effective arms, which could destroy the enemy in case of aggression,'' he said.

He didn't say how many nuclear weapons Pakistan had in its arsenal, which also includes medium-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads to targets deep inside neighbouring India, its traditional enemy.

Dr Khan's address to Pakistani journalists was part of a week-long celebration to mark the first anniversary of Pakistan's underground nuclear explosions conducted on May 28, 1998.

Giant banners have been strung throughout the capital, Islamabad, praising the nuclear explosions.

Adorning the wide tree-lined boulevards are giant posters of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief and Dr Khan separated by the drawing of one of Pakistan's newest nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.

Songs have been written commemorating the explosions, medals have been given to scientists and a film is being made.

According to the state-run news agency, Associated Press of Pakistan, the film will be entitled Ghauri, named after Pakistan's latest ballistic missile.

Torch-lit parades are being held, lotteries conducted and television programmes lauding Pakistan's nuclear achievements are being shown.

Pakistan would not share its nuclear technology with any country, he said. ''The Muslim world has accepted Pakistan as their leader after our successful nuclear arms and missile tests and they want us to help them in various fields including defence.''

UNI

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