Pakistan's atomic weapons safe - U.S. official

By Robert Birsel

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Saturday Pakistan's nuclear weapons were well protected and he was not worried they might fall into the hands of terrorists.

Pakistan is a major ally in the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism but deteriorating security, particularly after the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in December, has raised concern about the safety of its nuclear weapons.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen met President Pervez Musharraf and military leaders for talks on Saturday. He also met the official in charge of the country's nuclear arsenal, retired Lieutenant-General Khalid Kidwai.

"I'm very comfortable that the nuclear weapons are secure, that there are proper procedures in place," Mullen told a news conference. "I'm not concerned at all that they're going to fall into the hands of any terrorists."

Pakistan has stepped up efforts to counter what it regards as scaremongering over the security of its nuclear weapons because of threats from al Qaeda and its allies, and political uncertainty.

Kidwai told reporters last month Pakistan has boosted security at nuclear facilities and there was no chance of Islamist militants getting their hands on atomic weapons.

Mullen said he was not aware of comments from a U.S. official in Washington on Friday that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar are operating from Pakistan.