Pakistan

Instability in Pakistan can impact nuclear security, says US Congressional report

Report also notes how a number of recent initiatives have improved Pakistan’s nuclear security

News Desk January 22, 2016

PHOTO: ISPR

Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal consists of approximately 110 to 130 India-specific nuclear warheads, a recent US Congressional report has revealed.

“Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal probably consists of approximately 110-130 nuclear warheads, although it could have more,” the the US Congressional Research Service report read.

Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is widely regarded as designed to dissuade India from taking military action against Pakistan, it added.

Report on weapons: ‘Pakistan outpacing India in nuclear race’

Although Pakistan’s nuclear programme is widely regarded as designed to deter India, its arch-rival, from launching any nuclear misadventure against the country, but its expansion and development of new types of nuclear weapons and adoption of a doctrine called “full spectrum deterrence” have led some observers to express concern about an increased risk of a nuclear conflict between the two nations, the report upheld.

“Islamabad is producing fissile material, adding to related production facilities, deploying additional nuclear weapons and new types of delivery vehicles,” the report said.

In recent years, Pakistan has taken some strong measures, including strengthening of export control laws, improved personnel security and international nuclear security cooperation programmes, to bolster the security of its nuclear arsenal which has received global acclamation.

Pakistan surspasses India's nuke count: report

However, it said that a number of recent terrorist incidents have cast doubts in the durability of the measures taken by Islamabad to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear arsenal. “Some observers fear radical takeover of the Pakistani government or diversion of material or technology by personnel within Pakistan’s nuclear complex,” it said.

The report went on to point out that New Delhi is also constantly engaged in expanding its nuclear weapons and capabilities which may jeopardise the peace and stability in the region. “Continued Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons development could jeopardize strategic stability between the two countries,” it warned.

Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal could become world’s third-biggest: report

India and Pakistan have been arch-rivals since gaining independence from Britain in 1947 and have fought three wars against each other.

Read the full report here.

COMMENTS (17)

ramdar | 8 years ago | Reply @Sid: No doubt there is huge corruption in all developing countries, including China, India, Pakistan... In India, we also have severe poverty. Why not remove the corruption & also limit expense on nuclear weapons. The scam figure thrown by you is a political figure generated by people who do not even understand the difference between notional & real loss. During the same decade, India achieved highest ever rate of economical growth.

IndianDude | 8 years ago | Reply The USA and western world is mistaken, if they think they can kick Pakistan around like the way they did in the past. With CPEC and the friendship with world's number one economic and military super power china, the Pakistan is going to be #2 country in the world after #1 china. The world is going to regret when they have no immigrants, tourist or visitors from Pakistan, as they head towards the new Mecca china.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

someone | 8 years ago | Reply @Imran: Responsible nuclear country??? Remind me again why Musharraf house arrested AQ Khan??

Sid | 8 years ago | Reply @Kevin: The amount lost in corruption in our country is higher than the cost of securing nuclear stockpile. Total scams under in last decade under Congress ran close to 300000 crore. And economy of many african nations. And you are worried about cost of securing stockpile. How much do you think it costs ? Also I haven't add the cost of corruption by common men by not paying taxes and traffic fines and instead get away giving bribes. All that money goes to babus . Not national treasury. That's "economical affect of corruption 101" for you.

Shahid Akram | 8 years ago | Reply @curious2: This is the only thing that will work with US. World must learn to speak the truth. Truth is that USA always supported military governments in Pakistan. Truth is that instability in this region is just because of occupation of Afghanistan first by Soviets and later by USA.

Romm | 8 years ago | Reply @Zen: Correction! Indians are in fact Beggars. We extort Money from USA

True | 8 years ago | Reply 2 thumbs up for my Pakistan!!!

John B | 8 years ago | Reply Nuclear weapons ban is coming. Pak has no say in the matter and it will be locked out of international financial system if she does not comply. Within a decade , global nuclear weapons ban will come into force in one form or the other. As always, it will be the US leading the pack. No nation can use nuclear weapons anymore. It is an unwritten rule.

curious2 | 8 years ago | Reply @ZAHID Shazada:

American nuclear arsenal is the most vulnerable, especially from the Latin American drug cartel. It is also vulnerable from the Israeli agents – how did Israel get all her weapons from.

Actually France was the country that was responsible for Israel developing nukes - part of the payback Israeli assistance during attempted seizure of Suez Canal (an attempt thwarted by USA).

curious2 | 8 years ago | Reply @Shahid Akram:

Can Pakistan say to the USA just shut up and mind your own business ! Recommend

I suspect most outside of Pakistan have concerns about the safety of Pakistan's nukes. Face it - Pakistan is considered unstable by many. A history of govt overthrows, supporting terrorist used as "strategic assets", OBL found hiding outside of PMA, civil war, and a general reluctance to confront the religious extremist who fuel many of the problems. Not the best credentials to support "mind your own business".

Zen | 8 years ago | Reply @Shahid Akram: Yes only if the establishment stops begging for CSF money.

Kevin | 8 years ago | Reply As an Indian, I strongly feel that India should further reduce the number of n-weapons as any stockpiling and safeguarding takes away money from the pockets of Indians. If used by any nation, one or two can decide the fate of the nation that uses and the nation on which it is used. Why spend so much on a stuff when it is going to be hardly ever to be used. This is one area we do not want to be ahead of Pakistan. You can have as many you need. For us, whatever we have itself is more to decimate our enemies!!

ZAHID Shazada | 8 years ago | Reply The report is another misinfornation since the American nuclear arsenal is the most vulnerable, especially from the Latin American drug cartel. It is also vulnerable from the Israeli agents - how did Israel get all her weapons from. The Americans are deflecting from their own failures.

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply Deja vu! So now it's started again with Obama's final State of the Union address. They must needle someone, somewhere, sometime. Salams

Imran | 8 years ago | Reply It is unfortunate that the safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons has been subjected to baseless and unnecessary criticism since the country tested its nuclear device. A minor faction often claims that Pakistan's nuclear weapons are not safe and can fall into the hands of militants. 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).

Shahid Akram | 8 years ago | Reply Can Pakistan say to the USA just shut up and mind your own business !

indian | 8 years ago | Reply pakistan is doing good , don't bother them.

Replying to X