Washington: President Barack Obama says that Pakistan's 'large' nuclear arsenal is a worry for India and the US especially at a time when terror outfits like Al-Qaida and Taliban are trying to get such weapons.
The President's comments coincided with the release of the latest satellite photos which revealed that Pakistan is multiplying its nuclear arsenal much beyond its present stable of 60 to 100 weapons and increasing their destructive power and deliverability system.
Obama also said it is "absolutely imperative" for the US to take the "leadership" in meeting the security challenges spawned by nuclear proliferation in the world "particularly at a time when countries like North Korea and Iran are in the process of developing nuclear weapons capacity.
At a time when we see a country like Pakistan with large nuclear arsenal on the other side of a long running conflict in the sub-continent with India. At a time when terrorist organisations like Al-Qaida are trying to seek fissile material."
Obama made the reference on potential threats to India and the US by Pakistan's nuke arsenal after an Oval Office meeting with former secretaries of state George P Shultz and Henry Kissinger, former Defence Secretary William Perry and former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia on Tuesday.
"We do not want a world of continued nuclear proliferation and that in order for us to meet the security challenges in the future America has to take the leadership in this area," he added.