Nukes are Pak's main deterrent against India, says Mullen

Pakistan believes that nuclear weapons are its "crown jewels" and a deterrent against India, a top US military official has said, even as he expressed deep concern over the safety of the nukes in the country. "These (nuclear weapons) are their crown jewels," Admiral Mike Mullen Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in an interactive interview with David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent of The New York Times, at the Aspen Security Form on Tuesday.

"As much as we are focused on this threat (to their nuclear weapons), I think they are much more than they used to be. They have got -- you know, they see a threat from India. I mean, that's -- and this is their deterrent, specifically," Mullen said.

"So they view this as a huge, huge part of their long-term security. And thus, they haven't opened the doors up. And I don't expect to go next trip and say, okay, now we'll open the doors," he said in response to a question on the status of Pakistan nuclear weapons.

At the same time, Mullen expressed his deep concern over the safety of the nuclear weapons in Pakistan. "I wouldn't specify the particular path of proliferation, but I am certainly extremely concerned about the potential there. Now, again, they've taken significant steps and it's something we're working very hard with them on," he said in response to a question.