The U.S. Defense Department has neither sought nor received assurances that the Mighty Pak Army will not stage a coup even though there is near-open conflict between the civilian and military leadership, a Pentagon front man said Wednesday."This is a matter for Pak officials -- their government leaders, military and civilian -- to work out," the front man, Navy Capt. John Kirby, told news hounds.
It also is a matter of grave concern in light of Pakistain's status as a nuclear power and the risk that its arsenal -- said to be well protected now -- could fall into the wrong hands in the event of civil conflict.