PHOTO: FILE
The Saudis are allegedly interested in developing their own nuclear weapons to counter Iran’s atomic programme and they have invested generously in Pakistan’s defence sector, specifically in its missile and nuclear labs, stated Western experts in the Newsnight report.
The story, titled 'Saudi nuclear weapons 'on order' from Pakistan,' also stated that weapons made in Pakistan for the Saudis are ready to be delivered.
“Pakistanis certainly maintain a certain number of warheads on the basis that if the Saudis were to ask for them at any given time they would immediately be transferred," a former Pakistani intelligence officer is anonymously quoted as saying in the article.
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry certainly did not agree with these statements though.
"Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state with robust command and control structures and comprehensive export controls," it stated when contacted by BBC Newsnight regarding the story.
COMMENTS (77)
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@Ghostrider: Really? Ask the whole world- that's what they say for the Pakistanis as well. If Pakistan could do it given the blueprint, anyone can do.
Who said this joke ? and plz stop blaiming Pakistan.
Who said that first in Sweden? Pakistan is responsible country and helped the world to defeat USSR,and now to help NATO .just blaiming Pakistan will not work more and the world should recognize the past and present reality of Pakistan And course it's power . Lie will not work more at all.
BBC dont have any credibility left.. It should chnaged its name from BBC news to BBC comic Stories...
I have Only one reply to all.. "Keep crying"
Pakistan has strongly rejecting such report and article by BBC, as Pakistan is a responsible state and follows strict export controls. Its robust command and control system is the value of its nuclear program demand. Pakistan has maintained a solid position in following IAEA safeguards and peaceful regional stability.
@Layla: So true. Everyone is out to outdo the last sale. Our current PM is known as SRO Badishah, now he will known as Nuke Badishah. He never misses an opportunity to pat himself on the back as the one who triggered the first Nuke tests.
@Farooq: I love your sense of irony.
@Tyrion Lannister: Great comment. Sarcasm at its best. Thanks.
We don't need to jump to conclusions and keep things in perspective. One , Geopolitically the timing of alleged nuclear weapons transfer does not makes sense because neither Iranian nuclearisation is imminent nor there is other external threat to saudi arabia. Two, sources in this articles are too opaque to be consider credible enough for making conclusions. Global intelligence circles generate these types of reports for governments which are not definite in their assessments either. Third, is there really a sort of deal regarding nuclear weapons transfer? Well close security and intelligence cooperation do exists between Islamabad and Riyadh , rooted in realism rather than Islamism (atleast in terms of official levels) . I doubt this extends to nuclear matters. Further more, Pakistan has not decided yet a 'Nato Option' for Muslim world and it has its hands full for the time being due to threats posed by US and India. Fourth and last, Saudi Arabia is NPT member state which means that it has to violate the treaty commitments or withdraw altogather if it plans to 'transfer' NWs from Pakistan . Both are possible but I don't think that Western backed kingship there has will and vision for such undertaking. This story for now seems a bad press only
@Zoona: @Zoopash:
Thanks for the entertainment, you can now go back to your cages. It is feeding time...
I can conclude that US and NATO are preparing very well for the pull out from Afganistan. I mean "PUT PAKISTAN ON THE MAT"
This news is not believable...saudis dont have the intellect to handle complicated things like nukes.
We are talking about nuclear weapons not any mere ordinary object especially at this point of highly advanced spying technologies all around. Pakistan repeatedly declared its responsible behaviour as being a nuclear weapon state in front of world community and of course it’s not just mere a lip service. There must be substantial comprehensive structure behind. This new claim is completely not been able to understand. This actually seems to be a crafted story of US surprise. US is actually been in a fix that how Saudis do not agree with US and put itself apart with this threat that they can also go for nuclear weapons. With this US thought of all this made up scenario which has no grounds and substantial proof. We must consider the complex nature of nuclear weapons that they are not like to be shopped so easily. The rivalry exists between Wahhabis Saudis and Shia Iran and Pakistan is a country which possesses both sects. So, nothing to be astonished if Saudis are giving a tensed time to US on Iranian nuclear issue.
Another planted story to malign Pakistan on international forum. These types of stories will keep surfacing and will die down the natural death, after they complete their shelf life.
This crafted Western propaganda against Pakistan nuclear weapons, has no foundations in reality. The Government of Pakistan has declared repeatedly at multi international platforms that Pakistan acts very responsibly as far its nukes are concerned. This new alleged story of ordering nukes by Saudi Arabia does not been proved rather it’s just an assumption. There are growing tensions between US and Saudi Arabia on Iranian nuclear issue. The categorical rigid approach of Saudis on the Iranian issue astonished US that how its long ally can utter so straightforwardly to them. This in return made US to think that Saudis must have something substantial at hand despite of bowing in front of world’s super power. This is only a made-up fairy tale story to give justification of Saudis unyielding behaviour to US.
It's surprising to read such hot stories which clearly shows the extent international media wanted to malign the role of Pakistan who has been up-till now acted as a responsible nuclear weapon state. It also makes me wonder why everybody use to raise voices against Pakistan when we have special protocols in securing our nuclear arsenal,Pakistan is a significant contributor to the Nuclear Security Fund, which is clear manifestation of a strong leadership, Why don't BBC report on the issue of Israel nuclear ambiguity? Why don't they see the Indo-US deal as biased. so instead of creating a nefarious agenda against Pakistan that factually is incorrect one must act what real grounds are.
What a nonsense report by BBC. I have a simple question, Is it possible for an NPT signatory country to get nuclear arsenal from other state? It has never been because certain principles restricts such nuclear trade between countries. Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state which follows IAEA accords. So the report is totally fake, without logical background, rather just a rubbish act to malign image of Pakistan.
In any Iran -Saudi war, first victim would be Pakistan.
@Pakistani bloach: How about you just pray and pray hard that this news is not true. Cause if it is then your fate will be far worse then Afghanistan.
Typical double talk and double crossing by Pakistan. They sold nuke tech to Iran first and then now to Saudi. Expecting gas from Iran still ? What a country.
Good business opportunity for Pakistan. Lets find new customers.
@Abbas: you are fooling yourself if you think that pakistan like america will be in charge and control these things ! remember you have made it with Saudi money, chinese technology and pakistan as a puppet facilitator. Don't even think about being like american who had everything of theirs and they were person in control. Think about haunting but practical thing that is getting orders from saudis to get control of pak nukes. so whatever you had a proud achievement of 60 years is also actually not yours you cann't claim anything on it. Its like old adage of villages a poor man's beutiful wife is sister in law of whole village! so nukes of country like pakistan are etc..
Please read: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/11/06/saudiarabiasshadow_war
Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan to train 5,000 to 10,000 jihadis to fight Assad regime in Syria. Pakistan is getting caught in deep problem.
Pakistan is always on the wrong side of the history. Recently KSA was rebuffed by the Obama administration and by extension of Pakistan. All petrodollar is going towards either fighting wars through paid solders from Pakistan, use of non state actors and export of nuclear technology. Ideally KSA could have invested in the medical scientists of Pakistan for a super special hospital or cure for Polio or cancer where people from all over the world could go. If Pakistan is going to be taken over by China, KSA than women of Pakistan should get ready for driving ban and all kind of crazy fatwa. On the other side Iran is culturally, scientifically million miles ahead of KSA. Iran similar to Turkey has contributed to human civilization. Iran will grow in leap and bounds with the help of US. Pakistan will always be a poor cousin of her neighbors.
Why else would Saudi Arabia give us all that money?
It certainly wasn't charity.
So wats wrong in this? israel got nukes from west so why cant pakistan give it to saudis? we made them nd we have the right to give it to responsible sate like saudis..made in pakistan had more value than made in india where government needs a sadhu to dream for before digging up temples.
This too will come back to haunt Pakistan. Just like the jihadis of yesteryears are haunting Pakistan today. Sometimes I just wish the entire country could be picked up and transported to somewhere in the deep Southern hemisphere where it will be free to do all that it wants wiht no fallout on its neighbours.
@Jat:
If The United States could store nuclear warheads in Nato allied European states to preempt a Soviet Nuclear strike all through the cold war. Why cannot Pakistan provide protection to an allied country with a similar arrangement. The nuclear controls would still be under the Pakistani nuclear controls command. Off course Pakistan would sign a defense treaty on the same pattern as NATO.
It would be a strategic move with far reaching consequences. With some of the Pakistani strategic nuclear reserves on Saudi mainland, it would deter its main adversary India to reformulate its Nuclear offensive strategy against Pakistan. It would be a masterstroke that requires serious thought by the Pakistani strategic thinkers.
SO We as a Nation not just supplying toddlers for camel races but other stuff too! Go to Saudi and see what kind of 'Respect' they give to a Pakistani, though we are in such buisnesses.
I really don't understand Pak's long-term thinking on how they plan to maintain their economic relations with Iran, such as on the gas line. Does Pak not value stability at all (and didn't they like try to sell nukes to Iran too earlier?!)? Considering the latest revelations of having nukes ready for order for the Saudis, presumably against Iran, once again being a lackey or hired gun mercenary, once again being a regional Sunni-Shia (this time favouring a Sunni-Wahhabi nexus. I guess that should explain our Hakimullah Mehsud is 'Shaheed' insanity) sectarian wedge, once again being part of global tensions and once again highlighting the lack of responsibility and ethics in all matters, long-term financial or defense wise. The moment they saw Saudi petro-dollars, Pak immediately grovelled. Tragic. I don't think our twisted or lack of priorities were ever more apparent than the 60KM range nuclear capable missile tests conducted earlier, and the coinciding news that Hakimullah Mehsud was living in a well off large farm house 1 KM away from a Pak military base in Haqqani country (since we ceded our territory to that foreign Afghan family of militants).
Another attempt to malign Pakisatan's good name...
Is Pakistan a country or a garage for the Saudis ?
Does GOP has any credibility?
as leader of the muslim world pakistan is fullfilling its obligation...and the liberaloons, secularoons, indians , westerners and any anti-islamic mind is obviously not liking it.
every muslim nation must be powered and provided for with such arsenal...why should only the ugly five ,fifth ugly is israel, not china) have it?
Pakistan should also sell weapons to Iran. so that when Muslims start testing nuclear weapons on each other, Iranians will also have some thing to explode.
Just another pressure stunt, but still if usa can sell and help israil and russia & ISRAIL Can sell /help india in developing nukes then y pk cnt help saudi?????
Sounds like HINDUS from across the border are more concerned about pride or shame.......
It's Business my fellow HINDU's BUSINESS............What else could be better business than helping out friendly Muslim Country.........
Sorry, HINDU Neighbors but Chinese Nukes (As HINDUS call them) are going to spread out.......What else can be better strategic depth than this one...........
Good full speed Pakistan.....Nuke proliferates can keep on worrying.
@Jat:
"According to my information, some of Pakistan’s warheads are already stored in Saudi Arabia. They are meant to be used with the help of American supplied F-15s and Chinese supplied ballistic missiles. "
Your information is correct. Pakistan stated transferring some fully assembled nukes to Saudi Arabia a long time ago. Actually, Pakistan accelerated the transfer process after 9/11 when the Pak Establishment feared a US attack and capture of Pakistan's nukes. Thus is not only the nukes paid for by Saudi Arabia that are stored SA, but also a quantity of Pakistan's own inventory for safekeeping.
Saudi Arabia financed Pakistani nuke development in the 70's to 90's to the tune of $30B with the understanding that part of the nukes would be the property of Saudi Arabia.
@Khan:
"strategic depth"? this is no different from the homeless plumbers and electricians begging for some job and riyals in the squares of Riyadh.
The short range missiles that Pakistan is seen testing often could be pre-export testing for Saudi Arabia. Pakistan's short range missiles are not meant for India but it is rather Saudi weapons directed against Iran. Syria has been forced to destroy its chemical weapons. What next to follow is not a mystery. If Saudis can have nukes, Iran can also have them if they can improve their relations with USA and Israel.
Pakistani are also capable of selling their mothers too!
Now these two timer Saudis have gone too far, counter Iran my foot.
Sorry readers, my comments on this issue could not go thru, looks like what i said is too sensitive
Now, how wrong would it be, to say that Pakistan is an ' International Migraine'?
Every Muslim country has a right to a nuclear bomb if the West refuses to make Israel accountable for its rogue nuclear arsenal.
After RAJA Rental now Nuke Rental
how much are they ready to pay ?