Saudi minister avoids Pakistan nukes question

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Adel Al-Jubeir has refused to publicly speak on reports that Riyadh was trying to buy nuclear weapons from Pakistan, but said the Kingdom will do whatever it takes to protect itself.

“I am not going to get into details of discussions we have with foreign governments, and certainly not allied governments. I’m sure you understand,” he said.

“I would not discuss these things in a public forum, certainly not on television,” he told CNN when asked about nuclear cooperation with Pakistan.

His remarks came a day after US secretary of state John Kerry warned both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan against indulging in trade of nuclear weapons, saying there will be “all kinds of NPT consequences” if Riyadh went ahead with any such plan.

The warning from Mr Kerry came amid media reports that Saudi Arabia is trying to buy nuclear weapons from Pakistan.

Top Pakistani leaders have in recent weeks warned Iran of serious consequences if it attacked Saudi Arabia, which many analysts see as a nuclear threat from Islamabad to Tehran.

“Saudi Arabia is committed to two things. I always say two things we do not negotiate over, our faith and our security. Saudi Arabia will do whatever it takes in order to protect our nation and our people from any harm. And I will leave it at that,” Al-Jubeir said.