During a Department of Defense briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby was asked about Pakistan's expanding nuclear arsenal and the fear that some of it may fall into the wrong hands.
“We've long said that we believe Pakistan is more than capable of securing their stockpiles,” Kirby replied.
A report by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) released on Monday, titled ‘Strategic Stability in the Second Nuclear Age’, said that Pakistan harbours the fastest growing nuclear weapons programme in the world which could have enough fissile material to produce more than 200 nuclear devices by 2020.
Pakistan, the report said, has deployed or is developing 11 delivery systems for its nuclear warheads, including aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
It also identified South Asia as the region “most at risk of a breakdown in strategic stability due to an explosive mixture of unresolved territorial disputes, cross-border terrorism and growing nuclear arsenals.”
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Pakistan’s nuclear capability is appraisable; it has maintained the highest security safeguards by deploying a well-trained team of scientists and soldiers. Previously, the US has done the same praises several times but at the same time there is a false propaganda going on by few factions against the Pakistan’s nuclear program. Pentagon has to strictly monitor and should make sure such elements properly propagated not to spread this propaganda.
Hmmm....
Seems like US doesn't want anything changed with the way PK stockpiles are stored/secured. I wonder why??? What I know... Around 2004-2006 right after a lot of hue & cry was made on the security of Pakistan's stockpiles, American offered PK govt help and got heavily involved in training Pakistan's SPD (Strategic Planning Division) in securing nuclear arsenal. They must have got valuable insight on what goes where, so now when they know all... All is good and they don't want anything changed.
I hope someones smart enough to know that you got to move things around and I hope they are doing it.
Pakistan has significantly evolved its technical and procedural nuclear security operations since its 1998 nuclear tests. It also has willingly engaged with international partners in an attempt to further strengthen its security and control processes. The major changes over the past nine years include the creation of the NCA, the establishment of the SPD, the development of a nuclear doctrine, the improvement of export controls, the integration of the command and control system, and the employment of permissive action links on nuclear weapons.
Pakistan is engaged with the international community on nuclear safety and security issues, and is working to ensure that its strategic export controls are in line with international standards. As a respectable member of the global community, Pakistan is committed to the war on terror. As far as intentions and commitments are concerned, Pakistan has signed and ratified several international and regional instruments on terrorism.
Being a responsible nuclear state, Pakistan has developed a robust command and control mechanism over nuclear assets. The conditions of Pakistan's nuclear materials security have improved through strengthened laws and regulations, so as to reflect the latest nuclear security guidelines by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It is a fact that Pakistan is more capable enough of securing its nuclear stockpiles than anyone else. The country has done a lot on its own to establish comprehensive command and security structure. Pakistan has engaged every mechanism of not only meeting the international standards but challenging state threats to provide utmost security to its nuclear assets. It viewed its nuclear credential primarily under the parameter of keeping credible minimum deterrence. State is fully aware of all the prevalent threats in the prevailing security environment and that is why it is fully vigilant to provide flawless security to nuclear domains of the country.
@anil: Will the people on the other side of the border put on their glasses so that it can become clear to them that Pakistan is an independent sovereign country with a democratic government, an independent judiciary, and a strong army?
Pakistan nuclear established have maintained a robust command and control structure which is quite mature and is classified. There is not a single chance that any foreign actor or non-state actor can get hold of these nuclear weapons in a longer run. Secondly, the very development of nuclear weapons and fissile material is in fact in response to India's speedily developing nuclear program and delivery mechanisms which have compelled Pakistan and is again making it to take the same step to balance the equation of strategic stability and power stature in the region.
Same concerns can also be raised about the failed security system of USA nuclear establishments. Where in the last few months many accidents related to personnel reliability program have been witnessed. Despite of knowing the fact that Pakistan has established a foolproof security system, which is consisted of well trained officers and is equipped with latest technology so that to avoid any kind of mis-adventure in or around the sensitive facilities, every time it came up with this notion that Pakistan's nuclear weapons can fall into wrong hands. It is just a propaganda to ruin the responsible image of Pakistan.
The problem is no one knows WHICH Pakistan. Army, Militants, Democratic Government, Mullahs, public.
Will the real Pakistan please stand up and be identified? Or are all these the same?
Now American on right path, American must understand that Turkey has very good relations with Pakistan and Turkey has good relations with Israel. China has very good relations with Pakistan and China has good relations with India. If American fail to build strong relations with people of Pakistan then American people will bear the burden of $15-20 trillion.
Our eastern bullies has nothing say now? Peace Cheers