DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Pakistan’s defense minister has said that his nation’s nuclear program “will be made available” to Saudi Arabia if needed under the countries’ new defense pact.

Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif’s comments to Geo TV late Thursday night were the first specific acknowledgment that Pakistan was placing Saudi Arabia under the umbrella of its nuclear arms.

“Let me make one point clear about Pakistan’s nuclear capability: that capability was established long ago when we conducted tests. Since then, we have forces trained for the battlefield,” Asif said.

“What we have, and the capabilities we possess, will be made available to (Saudi Arabia) according to this agreement,” he added.

The two countries signed a defense deal Wednesday declaring that an attac

See Full Page