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‘Insider threat’: India worried over Pakistan nuclear arms security

Published: March 25, 2012

Source tells Indian newspaper India has very little confidence that Pakistan's nuclear programmes are secure.

India has cast fresh doubts on Pakistan’s nuclear programme saying its distrust in the security of its neighbour’s atomic assets was not evaporating any time soon, The Indian Express reported on Saturday.

“We have very little confidence that their nuclear programmes are secure or will stay safe,” an unnamed source cited by the newspaper said when asked about the security of atomic materials in Pakistan.

The possibility of “insider threat” was the prime concern among the Indian establishment and building capacities would be the key element in India’s pitch at the Nuclear Security Summit, which begins on Monday.

The source cautioned that the fissile material could get into the hands of terrorists, who could use it to make bombs.

They said an insider could be a person having legitimate reason to hold and control nuclear materials but who could also do the same for illegitimate purposes.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2012.

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Reader Comments (62)

  • Basit
    Mar 25, 2012 - 9:40AM

    Leave it to ET to splash this news as top headline based on anonymous Indian source. And then liberal elites wonder why regular Pakistanis think our liberals are foreign sponsored?

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 9:44AM

    look who is talking, take care of ur Naxals and Baghis first

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 9:46AM

    @Basit:
    Absolutely right, ET is funded by Indian and Jewish lobby, ET’s strings are pulled from Washington, Delhi and Tel Aviv

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 9:52AM

    ET loves to quote NYT, Guardian, CNN, BBC, sky, Fox, Indian news and all other propaganda machines, actually ET is itself a propaganda machine,

    if u r anti-Pakistan, anti Army/ISI, pro-Corrupt Gov, love to bash Islam ET is the best place for u to write

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  • Billoo Bhaya
    Mar 25, 2012 - 10:00AM

    India is full of crap and so is ET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Falcon
    Mar 25, 2012 - 10:13AM

    Here goes the drama again. There are days when I feel that our Indian friends are getting off the wrong side of the bed. We were cruising so well towards better relations. Doesn’t India know that this will spark off emotional response in Pakistan? This could as well have been communicated diplomatically through back-channels rather than washing the laundry in public. We already have enough of DPC rallies every other day, don’t want more of those.

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  • Yash
    Mar 25, 2012 - 10:19AM

    @Basit:
    i did not see a single such comment on an article on pakistan winning 380k USD contract in this very newspaper….

    funny thing is….even that article had an “unnamed” official’s words

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 10:29AM

    If Indians believe it like this then there is all the more reason they should accept our offer of making this region a nuclear arms free zone.

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  • flop movie flop ideas
    Mar 25, 2012 - 10:43AM

    well..agent vinod is flopping….so ET is helping it s story line to get another reality twist……..
    Pakistan’s nuclear command is better equipped than India……if it were not then just imagine…would ISRAEL, INDIA and USA have left it safe till now……?????

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  • Mohammad Ali Siddiqui
    Mar 25, 2012 - 10:45AM

    Every one in the world including India, US etc. etc. are worried about Pakistan’s nuclear arms just for one main reason that Pakistan is the only Islamic State which has the nuclear capability and no other Islamic State.

    While talking such nonsense people forget that terrorists also live in the countries which have nuclear capabilities.

    It is a matter of time when a single terrorist or a group of terrorist may have access to nuclear capability and destroy his own country. But I am 100% sure that this is not going to happen in Pakistan.

    Countries having nuclear capabilities should find out where their terrorists are hiding.

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  • Raj - USA
    Mar 25, 2012 - 10:50AM

    Not just India, but everyone would be worried because Pakistan looks everything through the religious prism. Proliferation sponsored by the Generals to Iran and Libya makes it crystal clear. Also to be viewed, is the general mindset that considers religion above nationality, vigorous conversion of non-muslims to muslims, hiding of OBL and to top it all denying everything and coming up with counteraccusations on everything. Pakistan has divided the world into muslim and non-muslim world and most there think only muslims have any rights. Even the constitution supports this thinking. This would be a cause for great concern to everyone. Regular rallies and hate speeches against USA, NATO, India, Israel, UK, and the rest of the World where muslims are not in majority, signifies deep polarization and someone in power can easily hand over the technology or the weapons itself to groups with extreme ideologies. Any debate or thinking in Pakistan starts with Religion and ends with Religion.

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  • Mirza Zulfiqar Baig
    Mar 25, 2012 - 11:02AM

    India should not be worried about Pakistan’s Atomic Weapons, but should concentrate on solving all issues with Pakistan including core issue of Jammu and Kashmir in peaceful manners.

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  • Faraz
    Mar 25, 2012 - 11:05AM

    I have to cry FOUL! here. This is not the headline we want. The entire Punjab is out of power for the last 3 days and not a single mention on a news channel. This is a national emergency and I am ashamed at our news media mind boggling focus on cheap worthless politics instead of this catastrophic situation.

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  • ParvezM
    Mar 25, 2012 - 11:15AM

    Pakistani investment in NW is to give nightmares to Bharati establishment and that is the purpose and it shows that the deterrent is working. What is ET hinting at?

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  • wonderer
    Mar 25, 2012 - 11:20AM

    @Basit:

    I do not know whether to laugh or cry over your comment.Recommend

  • Realist
    Mar 25, 2012 - 11:47AM

    By giving air to Dr. Singh’s comment, we are actually falling into his trap. If we recall NSS-2010, President Obama lauded Pakistan’s nuclear security standards saying, “I feel confident about Pakistan’s security around its nuclear weapons programs.” http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/press-conference-president-nuclear-security-summit
    Pakistan needs no certificates.
    We in Pakistan are also concerned about Indian security…their weapons may fall into BJP’s extremists’ hands.

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  • MarkH
    Mar 25, 2012 - 11:47AM

    @Mirza Zulfiqar Baig:
    At least try to understand context. They didn’t initiate some announcement to the world or to Pakistan. Someone asked the question and they answered. Very few countries would answer any differently as well.

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  • Wonderful
    Mar 25, 2012 - 11:53AM

    @ParvezM:
    Can you be more specific on ’Pakistani investment in NW’.

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  • BlackJack
    Mar 25, 2012 - 11:56AM

    The ‘unnamed’ source must have been so unimportant that mentioning it would detract from the newsworthiness of this pointless article. I don’t think any high-ranking govt official or diplomat in India will make such a statement to the press (even if they probably are secretly worried).

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  • Hafeez
    Mar 25, 2012 - 11:58AM

    Hey India! Really? Had you not gone for nuclear tests in 70s, Pakistan would not have thought of it. So, have fun now.

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 12:12PM

    Vienna,March 25,2012
    It is about the leaky establishment, as was the case with Osama
    Bin Laden.Those who sheltered and protected him as asset can be
    trusted to transfer the immobile assets like nuclear materials to the
    mobile proxy assets, a respectable and acceptable designation to
    terrorists.So no responsibility can be fixed to face of establishment.
    Once things go out of hand, it is easy to ask opportunity to cross
    examine the victims as in the case of Ajmal Kasab,who was not
    even represented by a Pakistani Consel during trial.That is the
    reason of deployment of cold start doctrine,which is fully operational.
    Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India
    –Kulamarva Balakrishna

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  • Hairaan
    Mar 25, 2012 - 12:27PM

    We definitely didn’t make nukes for the entertainment of Indians. Neither have they.

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 12:36PM

    Bakwaas! It is safely guarded by mujahids.

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 12:40PM

    North Korea -> Iraq -> Lebanon -> Egypt -> Syria -> Iran -> Pakistan

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 12:49PM

    This is carefully timed attempt to embarrass Pakistan at nuclear conference in Seoul, a calculated and a nasty act by India. And then they say, they want better relationship with Pakistan!

    What is the guarantee that India nukes are safe, perhaps they should submit their nuke security system for inspection by Pakistani inspectors.

    Instead of buryiing our head in sand as ususal, Pakistan should denounce this backstabbing most vociferously.

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  • PakArmySoldier
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:00PM

    I’m more concerned about India’s weapons falling in the hands of Maoist rebels.

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  • s
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:03PM

    ET should be banned.

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  • Umair
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:04PM

    Dear India we are worried too about your nukes’ security.

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  • narayana murthy
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:17PM

    This is an immature statement by the Indian source.Recommend

  • Pinto
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:21PM

    @Umair: sorry but India is not a radical islamic terrorist nation like pak

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  • Anon
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:30PM

    @Basit
    ET is officially tied to New York Times and the Israeli paper Haaretz, both are agressively Zionist in their foreign policy outlook, harshly critical of Pakistan and strategically aligned with India (who they see as a counter weight to Muslim Pakistan and China). So ET’s stance is not surprising, most of us can just weight for its revenues and US funding to run out and the paper to shut down like its channels.

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  • Err...
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:32PM

    @ pinto
    thank for the clarification only a hindu nation and other christian nations are allowed to have nukes right?

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  • YeaRight
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:36PM

    ET you bury anti-indian news but will splash all anti-pak news on front page. What is wrong with you? Isolating readers is not a great way to raise revenue, unless your primary purpose is to just spew propaganda online all day.

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  • Realist
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:45PM

    @Pinto:

    Only a radical Hindu state, whose provincial governments not only let atrocities like Gujrat massacre happen but have higher officials involved in it. Very liberal country. Yeah.

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  • Adi
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:53PM

    Well ET is here to over exaggerate it , why do we have to worry from any other entity…
    Thanks ET! since the day i have started following your paper u have never disappointed me because ur sources are always their to malign Pakstan Image..”SARCASM”
    DURR FITTAY MOUN….

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  • worried indian
    Mar 25, 2012 - 1:57PM

    The whole world is worried about the threat of pak nukes falling in the hands of terrorists, not just india.No one says same things about indian or wesrtern nukes. Difa types seem to be threatening use of nukes. Has anyone ever heard of that anywhere else in the world except for north korean nukes?
    Why are pakistanis so shrill about worlds worries?? The people of pakistan should encourage their govt to dismantle their nukes and concentrate on economic development. A country without power and gas is more focussed on nukes. thats an awfully myopic view.
    buck up guys and stop feeling persecuted.

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  • Senman
    Mar 25, 2012 - 2:08PM

    India is worried about Pakistan states born and bred “non-state actors”.

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  • adeel759
    Mar 25, 2012 - 2:09PM

    @Basit and Pak Poilitics. Your own GHQ was planning to charge Brig Ali and others for planning to launch an airstrike on GHQ. so why one deranged General/Squad Leader can’t do the same to Nuclear Facilities. Think ….which you won’t.

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  • usman
    Mar 25, 2012 - 2:13PM

    express tribune is the worse version of FOX NEWS

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 2:47PM

    @Mirza Zulfiqar Baig:
    Baig Saab leave Kashmir out of this issue! Just think for a while. If nuclear weapons are not kept in secure locations and if no security precautions are taken they can create problems for the neighbours as well as the country in which they are located in. So time for some introspection. And as far as Kashmir is concerned it’s been a Hindu kingdom with temples and now the Kashmiri Pandits are relocating to their native land.So this topic is something which the Indians are very touchy about. If we were to raise the topic of Balochistan’s freedom how would you feel? Balochistan has an important temple and after the problem of forced conversions Indians have started taking interest.

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  • Arjun
    Mar 25, 2012 - 3:34PM

    @Realist:

    This shows your pathetic ignorance. BJP is not extremists. In fact, they tested nuclear weapons when they were in GOVT in 1998. BJP is a democratic party, it is insane to see them inline with your extremist groups like LET and ZUD.

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  • Roflcopter
    Mar 25, 2012 - 3:41PM

    It makes sense seeing a first world country doubt the safety of our nukes….but India? hahaha looks whos talking

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  • Cautious
    Mar 25, 2012 - 3:42PM

    The World has a right to be concerned about your nuke security — nothing works in your country – you can’t keep the lights on nor handle basics like mosquito abatement.

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  • Mar 25, 2012 - 3:50PM

    @flop movie flop ideas: on for your information please that on 26th & 27th March world leaders are convening a meeting in Seoul South Korea to discuss the threats of Nuclear terrorism which is apprehended by India also. Why on earth so many countries are apprehensive. ( please use the grey matter)

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  • V. C. Bhutani
    Mar 25, 2012 - 4:01PM

    I read the report in The Indian Express, for which you gave us a link. Thanks. It would have been gracious if Indian “sources” had acted discreetly. There was no point in going public with things of this kind. At the same time, we need to remember that Pakistan’s security apparatus and intelligence network has been known to have been infiltrated by terrorists. One does not know who in the army or the intelligence is sympathetic to the objectives of the terrorists. This calls for constant vigilance on the part of the superior establishment in Pakistan. Pakistan would be well advised in its own interest to take steps to ensure that these “infiltrated elements” do not get into crucial places in the command and control structure. I have no doubt that Pakistan’s concerned authorities are equal to the job. V. C. Bhutani, Delhi, India, 25 Mar 2012, 1630 IST

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  • Uzair Javaid
    Mar 25, 2012 - 4:39PM

    Ohh Come onnnn =D india shows little confidence =D LMAOOOO. After their uranium cakes found exposed on donkey carts. They have little confidence =D

    ET well done for you proving once again your members’ devotion for SAFMA ;)

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  • Pakistani
    Mar 25, 2012 - 4:57PM

    @Cautious: OMG, i recently visited india my friend and nothing works there too =P bumpy roads, loadshedding, street crime, beggars, pocket-picking, accidents, trains derailing. Sometimes you people seem idiots for such comments =D

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  • Pakistani
    Mar 25, 2012 - 4:58PM

    @adeel759: atleast use your own name buddy! thats false charges against him which already have been removed and proven false

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  • Street View
    Mar 25, 2012 - 5:20PM

    Kashmir is not core issue for India. Is this the core issue for Pakistan today?

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  • Wonderful
    Mar 25, 2012 - 5:59PM

    @Roflcopter:
    In your opniion, which countries are ‘first world country’?

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  • Jat
    Mar 25, 2012 - 6:40PM

    @Wonderful: All countries that can send drones, helicopters into Pakistan, bomb Pakistan army posts and civilians are first world countries.All countries that can arm-twist Pakistan to return Raymond Davises are first world countries. All countries who do all the above and are allowed to transport the weapons through air and road through Pakistan for a few dollars are first world countries.

    Look at the “pride” with which Roflcopter makes these comments.

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  • hassan
    Mar 25, 2012 - 6:51PM

    I am currently reading a book called ‘Black Swan’ by Nassim Taleb.

    According to the author, more you say it is not likely to happen, more are the chances it will surely happen.

    I have started talking to my immigration lawyer. How about you ?

    Recommend

  • Cosmo
    Mar 25, 2012 - 6:52PM

    @PakArmySoldier: Why r u worried?shuldnt u b happy as maoists are againt the republic of india and not the rest of the world. Dont jusf omment for sake if it.

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  • Harry Stone
    Mar 25, 2012 - 7:48PM

    Since it seems the debate wants to be changed from PAK to India then one has to ask which country is the most secure. PAK is a failed nation lacking the ability to govern large parts of the country. It cannot protect its citizens from random acts of terror.

    So yes India is concerned about the security of nuclear weapons just as is the rest of the world. Everyone seems to forget the UN report on nuclear security that cited PAK as a major concern.

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  • talha
    Mar 26, 2012 - 12:12AM

    after all this insult, pakistan govt and pakistani public will still worship india’s ideology in regards to to there culture, clothes, movies, there products, turn them to most favoured nation, and in the end india stab’s us in the back, but wait a minute, they don’t need to stab us in the back, we’ll give them the revolver and help them push the trigger on our heads.

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  • Thomas
    Mar 26, 2012 - 3:47AM

    @Harry Stone:

    As India is so wired into all the goings in Pakistan, they probably are picking up some
    signals which make them worry. I don’t think it is meant as a slight to Pakistan. Their intelligence agencies might have picked up little clues and it might have led them to speculate. That is my take.

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  • Dr Jamil Chaudri
    Mar 26, 2012 - 4:12AM

    A reasonable way to deal with such ANONYMOUS LEAKS (always emanating from usual miscreants) for the Paki Republic, Friends of Pakia and Paki citizens, would be: PAKI nuclear-security issues are not for public forums; we neither confirm nor deny such innuendo or rumors.
    .
    Paki nuclear safety record is no worse than that of the Western Nations, and India: Morris Cohen(American) Klaus Fuchs(British), Harry Gold(American), David Greenglass(American), Ethel and Julius Rosenberg(American); the Shiv Company (Indian); Asher Karni pleaded guilty to exporting items to India that are “controlled for nuclear non-ploliferation”; loss of Depleted Uranium from Bhaba Labs, India. Literarily hundreds of REAL instances
    .
    It is anti-Paki Zionazi propaganda machine and its camp-followers that spread these anonymous leaks. And of course Indians as camp-followers have to undertake the dirty work for others. The first to publish such rumors are the third-class papers; later “western” news agencies will pick up the same item as “verified truth”.

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  • Abba Jee
    Mar 26, 2012 - 8:02AM

    India’s worries are uncalled for, Pakistan do not have any nukes period.

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  • worried indian
    Mar 26, 2012 - 9:43AM

    @Err…:
    Yes. pakistan has no business having nukes because it is an irresponsible country and is currently going out of control. People are trully worried. That is pakistan is reffered to as an international migraine.
    Pakistan should take a leaf from japan and germany. both have a no nucleur bomb policy. If pakistan were to hand over its nukes to USA for safekeeping, and dismantle its Army,USA and international community write off its crippling USD 300 billion debt. Pakistan can start from a fresh slate after a loss of 65 years!
    Zardari understands the above. He is the only leader of a poor third world country, who is a hard nosed businessman. He can help pakistan prosper and he knows that friendship with india is essential to that.

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  • Zeta
    Mar 26, 2012 - 10:56AM

    @Pinto:
    spoken like true hindutva saffron terrorist. Just to let you know that your “agents” are being killed mercilessly in waziristan and swat.

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  • Zeta
    Mar 26, 2012 - 11:02AM

    Citing unnamed sources on such delicate matter is nothing but pure propaganda. ET should be ashamed of itself for selling Pakistan so cheap.

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  • bharat
    Mar 27, 2012 - 9:42AM

    Should the nukes fall in Taliban hands, the first place of use will be a Pakistani city only. Considering the number of taliban killed by your army, the NO 1 ememy of the Taliban is Pakistani itself

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