Pak military says PM Shehbaz Sharif has called meeting of body that oversees nuclear arsenal amid tensions with India; Defence Minister denies

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif (Courtesy: Reuters photo)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a meeting of the National Command Authority, the body that oversees Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, Pakistani military said on Saturday. This meeting comes amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan, both nuclear armed countries.

However, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif later said that no meeting of the National Command Authority was scheduled following a military operation against India that took place early on Saturday.

The National Command Authority is the top body of civilian and military officials that is responsible for taking security decisions, including those related to the country's nuclear weapons.

The NCA meeting comes after Pakistan launched ‘Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos’ on Friday night, which came as a response to India's 'Operation Sindoor', which targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan on May 7.

In its latest escalation, Pakistan launched attacks on several Indian cities, all of which were thwarted by the Indian Armed Forces. After a series of attacks by Pakistan, India launched retaliatory strikes on several Pakistani air bases on the intervening night of May 9 and 10.

Pakistan's National Command Authority or the NCA is the country's highest decision-making body. It is chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and is responsible for the formulation of policy, command and the country's control of nuclear weapons and strategic assets.

The NCA plays an important role in ensuring the operational readiness of the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan and keeps note of its security and development. It is responsible for the formulation of national policy related to the potential use of nuclear weapons.

The NCA exercises control over all strategic forces, including nuclear missiles and their delivery systems, while also ensuring the safety and security of the country's nuclear weapons and protecting them against unauthorised use or theft.

The NCA is chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and includes senior civilian and military leadership. It also comprises the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Ministers of Defence and the Chiefs of Air Force, Army and Navy.