WASHINGTON: Pakistan has begun moving its nuclear weapons in low-security vans on congested roads to hide them from US spy agencies, making the weapons more vulnerable to theft by militants, two US magazines reported on Friday.
The Atlantic and the National Journal, in a joint report citing unnamed sources, wrote that the US raid that killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May at his compound in Abbottabad reinforced Islamabad’s long-standing fears that Washington could try to dismantle the country’s nuclear arsenal.
As a result, the head of the Strategic Plans Divisions (SPD), which is charged with safeguarding Pakistan’s atomic weapons, was ordered to take action to keep the location of nuclear weapons and components hidden from the US, the report said.
Khalid Kidwai, the retired general who leads the SPD, expanded his agency’s efforts to disperse components and sensitive materials to different facilities, it said.
But instead of transporting the nuclear parts in armored, well-defended convoys, the atomic bombs “capable of destroying entire cities are transported in delivery vans on congested and dangerous roads,” according to the report. The pace of the dispersal movements has increased, raising concerns at the Pentagon, it said.
The article quotes an unnamed official from the Inter-Services Intelligence agency saying: “Of all things in the world to worry about, the issue you should worry about the least is the safety of our nuclear program.”
The Pentagon declined to comment on the article but a senior US military official told reporters in Washington on Friday that the US remains confident Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are secure.
“I believe the Pakistan military arsenal is safe at this time, well guarded, well defended,” said the military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The article, based on dozens of interviews, said the US military has long had a contingency plan in place to disable Pakistan’s nuclear weapons in the event of a coup or other worst-case scenario.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2011.
COMMENTS (69)
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@Baloch: Not talking about you. Don't fight. Who is asking you? We have enough faithful Baloch in our ranks. Do us a favour though. Stop killing Hazaras in your province.
As for you dream, dreams are dreams. They will remain so.
@PAKISTANI: former USSR had all her Nukes intact when it was beaten by Pakistan and subsequently turned into pieces. US had its Nukes intact when he faced defeat in Vet Nam, hence Pakistani Nukes won't play any part when west will try to treat it like Libya etc.
Zionist propaganda at its best creating confusion all the way. When desperation creeps in the yankees have a tendency to go off the rails. National security matters of other countries should be respected. I believe the nukes are in safe hands and the yankees media must do the same. The Pakistani nuclear program was given thumbs up by the IAEA.
Please don't worry. No one needs our Nukes. God knows whether they will go off towards any target in time or not. Just imagine, our Trains and their Engines, then comes PIA. All are out of order. Moreover nothing is hidden from the lone super power called USA.. Even a needle moving around on earth can be traced out easily. I disagree with the report as a mischief and joke. Yes, our own lives are in danger due to any irresponsible move and safety standards.
@Pakistani Please exclude All baloches, we will ever never fight with pakistanies, I think and I m sure our dream is becoming real very soon.
The fact that this article was written, means that the Americans can't pin point the locations of our Strategic Assets. Bravo Armed Forces. You have scored a point there!
@Kulamarva Balakrishna sahab, I will say hypocrisy unlimited we all know that what u think sir in one side israel and india are allows to do every thing and iran and pakistan get sunctions and iraqis get mass killing with out any proof even collin powel lies front of every body in security council.
These magazines doest not make sense at all...
Vienna,November 5,2011 I have read it all. I know Atlantic for more than 50 years. It is not like Pakistani media. Responsible. Not nuclear safety Pakistani human safety is under threat by poorly escorted dancing death trucks.TANDAVA. Strategic assets.The hated Uncle Sam is engaged on a three pronged safety programme for the safety of AfPak women and children! Are you concerned? May be the uncle should be looking through about a thousand eyes, the fake and the realassets like the king of gods!He knows it all. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Balakrishna
To avoid US snatching our valuable nuclear assets, I suggest we keep them in China cupboards and China shops along with MA. Khan. We can also think of giving them to Iran on loan basis.
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.US leaders never create and never try to create any propaganda and reasons in any forms and manifestation to enter Pakistani nuclear power plants.This is not your headache.Don't you stop spreading such these types of false informations about Pakistan's nukes and keep it in your minds firmly and strongly and never forget that Pakistan Army is good enough to protect Pakistan's nukes by Allah Almighty's greatest and endless blessings.Is it clear.Protect your own nukes not the other countries' nukes.Keep your eyes off Pakistani nukes.
oh yeah. I can sleep in peace now.
Let me take it a bit further, Pakistan is also making flims like "Hassina Atom Bomb", to transfer technology to others. This proves how much it is taking care of it atomic weapons.
guys i believe that CIA is desperately looking for our nukes, and their are 100s of guys like Raymond Davis in Pak. These nukes are our last leverage for survival in the region south asia. Since what happened to Iraq , labia, Afghanistan i believe we are the next stop of Nato. Iran is the next Possible victim of Nato . i hope that we do something about that.
they can not raid for this because our nukes are dispersed the are not at some particular place AND WAR WITH NUCLEAR PAKISTAN WILL NOT BE AS MUCH EASY AS AFGHAN OR IRAQ WAR FIGHTING WITH AFGHAN PEOPLE IS NOT SIMILAR TO FIGHT WITH FULLY TRAINED ARMED FORCES AND 18 CRORE ANTI AMERICAN PEOPLE
"Although Pakistan has suggested it might shift towards China and forsake its ties to Washington, Chinese officials have reached an understanding in secret talks with US representatives that Beijing would raise no objections if the United States opted to secure Pakistan’s nuclear weapons, the report said, citing unnamed US sources."
DO WE TRUST CHINA .....???
The only interest in your nukes comes in the form of contingency planning. Even the support aspect is included so that if the scenario actually became reality they could act immediately.
If you don't get why they'd plan for such scenarios ahead of time like that, regardless of the odds of it becoming reality, then you really shouldn't be saying anything while simultaneously believing your time was well spent in doing so and should be taken seriously.
Nobody cares about or are intimidated by your nukes as long as they're kept out of reach in a logical way.
The game has just started folks. Time to sit back and enjoy the action.
pakistan should be careful while dealing with nuclear weapons
American propaganda machine in a new low. American you have lost and are humiliated . You guys have no respect whatsoever left in Pakistan thanks to your government and media.
Open minded Pakistanis like me too.
Pakistan, can you pls not use congested roads?
I've seen the vans running on the Jhelum-Pindi route !
The Atlantic is a Zionists owned and operated publication; they have their own Zionist agenda to propagate erroneous information against Pakistan a predominant Muslim country. A trivial but nevertheless important point to make here, The Express Tribune must not toe the Zionist line by publishing such absurd news items for the sake of the national security of Pakistan.
The problem is that American foreign policy is run under the influence of AIPAC. Pakistan is not a threat to Israel and especially not the United States. The country, excluding non-state loony actors with no capabilities, poses no threat to the United States. Pakistan's nuclear assets have the best command and control structure vetted by the IAEA. The paranoid AIPAC members and their (unpatriotic - to the US) Media, Congress, and Bureaucratic CRONIES would like to scare the American public into wasting taxpayer dollars on another misadventure only to satisfy AIPAC's paranoia. I would pose this questions, have the same critics analyzed India's nuclear assets and the safeguards around them? India has the same dynamics as Pakistan, whether you look at radical Islam or Naxilite separatist movements. Why is it that the threat of those assets falling into the wrong hands is not of equal concern. Americans please take back your foreign policy and government from special interests!
They are right! it was my neighbors mistake the fool a few a days ago tried to transport some atom bombs that he had been keeping in a rented warehouse, at the back of old SABZI MANDI, to MANORA, and in the process some American spies, as tourists, observed everything and immediately reported to USA.,fortunately ,they couldn't see the deadly missiles,that were on a camel cart, hired from JORIYA BAZAAR ,shrouded by coffin cloth.Later after a physical check,inventory found OK.
as if they r being transported in 'ready-to-fire' state. these american papers (mouthpiece of their congressmen) are best at creatin hype at every little thing.
and if they r so concerned about the security of our arsenal while they also know that they are being trasported in such a manner only to keep them invisible from american/indian etc intelligence eyes, then let them simply withdraw their agents which r busy followin them to every place.
I think Hollywood's directors would have been planning to make movie in order to defame Pakistan. and these two journals theft their story and now they are trying to giving the color of reality. SPD and its security force is strongly capable to counter any threat in both perspectives i.e. internal security and external security.
Everything is in the realm of possibility, it's Pakistan. So hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Nobody seems to be commenting on the last paragraph of the article.
Think people, think! What would America do with 100+ nukes when they already have 1000's of their own that are more deadly n sophisticated than ours(Pakistans). The issue here is our nukes getting in hands of extremists. Can you imagine? America can be very wrong, evil, cruel etc etc. But they definitely have a point. Blaming America is not going to solve our problems- created by our people for us! u
@Aurangzeb: Not really. The US has more than one security precaution beyond location. There are also codes that are required to activate them.
The American Media publishes anything that would earn them some bucks. They are fond of fairy tales, this is one of them. Pakistan has world's best nuclear arsenal and no one can tell where they are and how they are moved, if really they are moved at all.
it just shows how creative and daring we are...and a bit crack too
It would be serious negligence if Pakistani leadership disregard The United State's hidden policy regarding the Pakistan's nuclear assets constructive capability. Second American fear the nuclear weapons may be stolen because extremists wondering around and trying their best to occupation but they still failed and hope would remained fail but chances are persist can not be overlooked.
as for as changing the place of nuclear arsenal reveals that there is some significant change has been appeared which may create some unexpected circumstances.
Army commanders and the leaders have some reservations regard the security of American and NATO forces in Afghan territory..
What Pakistan doing,common mind compelled to feel in view of political and strategic scenario. On the other hand,Tallban are not come across the negotiation table they have some preconditions unacceptable for the single super power,it mean thunderous cloud of war is covering the region day by day.God bless us all.
Vans not, yellow cabs much better.
unknown sources, reliable sources, etc ... yes they can build fatal cases on these assumptions and can attack any country - as they did in iraq and afghnistan b4. idiots.
Don't know if I should laugh or cry on this news. It's too bizzare, too out there, too dangerous, too whacky........Sounds like we are hauling nuclear bombs like a sabziwala would haul his tarbuz and kharbuzas. We have finally outdone ourselves in the bizzaro world...
I would suggest readers to keep in mind that nuclear weapons are not set ready for deployment, and that they are stored as components or modules under mostly 3-layers of checks and balances. So if your are imagining that the Army is transporting huge missiles on 18-wheelers then you may have the wrong idea.
US desperation is showing.
@Mj: You are onto something here. However, let us deny it like the Ojhri Camp, Mehran Base and the presence of OBL in the heart of our army base. The abject surrender of one lackh army in East Pakistan was wrong, Pakistani cricketers were selling the games was wrong, Ajmal Qasab was not even a Pakistani and we denied it for a long time. Let us think for a moment instead of US army if Paksitani army and police were in Iraq how many WMD they would have discovered by now? How can we blindly dismiss all the news without full analysis? I am not saying what is the truth but it is the truth that is the first casulty in Pakistan.
To all the deniers, what if, what if it is true?. If it is true, its mind boggling and if its just a smear campaign then, keep it coming. But deep in heat, I can expect from SPD to come up with such a dangerouse yet "Jatka" made-in-pakistan security plan. And it is conceivable that in case of a JSOC operation to dismantle or take-out the nuclear warheads, closest friends as China, would only publicly issue a statement of condemnation but nothing more than that, and will tell pakistan to live under new realities.
our message to the world should be simple that all the countries in the world including pakistan, india, china, usa, uk, france, isreal should devise a startegy to dispose all nuclear weapons from the face of this earth and save our precious home EARTH from inevitable destruction from these deadly devices and make our world nuclear free from all nuclear weapons.....GOD SAVE HUMANITY.......
next i saw them the van had a flat tire & it had bumped into another vehicle on the "congested road", suddenly infinitesimally small yellowish-green vapours began leaking----
what?? i thought it was a dumb story contest..i won, right? :P
I see a nuclear detonation in Pakistan which will be blamed on Pak army for landing these bombs in the hands of 'extremist'. This will be a setup by the CIA/Pentagon.
Pakistan establishment is least concerned about the civilian population, otherwise they would have reigned in the Jihadis and Sectarian outfits. Civilian casualties may be considered acceptable on the road Caliphate! Now, transportation of dangerous materials in urban congested areas! What a basket case Pakistan has been turned into! I pity the people who have to endure these strategic depth driven policies of Khakis, within Pakistan as well as in the neighborhood! It looks like by the time Caliphate is achieved, poor Caliph will be left to rule only himself!
I think Americans are living in more fictional world these days than a real one. Hollywood has messed up their minds.
hilarious..... ask them what they are calling nuclear weapons..... how stupid they can get.
yeah, i saw a suspicious van yesterday, black windows, masked men with 3 silver containers roaming about the city..and when they came near me, my geiger counter started beeping... shudders
If you read history, similar measures have helped CIA too.
English Nuclear caravan was once lost in Scotland while transporting. Atleast we know where we're heading.
And.....the best of all, America's freedom of information act made the american's tell everyone how they transport it. No big deal.
http://www.pakwheels.com/blog/articles/this-truck-transports-nukes-across-usa
Isn't it ever so convenient to hear such things from ' a source '...
I guess they heard something similar about Iraq's WMDs and guess what 10 years down the lane they haven't even found a damn firecracker.
I think America has FINALLY lost it!
A commando raid to snatch atom bombs is complete non-sense. Special operations look easy in Delta force video game; in reality they hardly succeed. Osama raid succeeded because there was a single armed guard; it would have been a different matter if Osama had a dozen guards and a secret escape route.
Denuclearization can occur if severe economic sanctions result in mass starvation and death, and the state willfully hands over the bomb in return for food and aid. Or if state fragments and doubts over safety of nuclear weapons force world powers including China to demand access to the bombs. But these scenarios are too far-fetched.
Hollywood script writers .. please get your next script from the article above ..
Dear Army, We still have not forgotten the Ojhri Camp incident. Please do not put lives of millions at risk. Sometimes things that can go wrong will go wrong.
Regards, Concerned Citizens of Pakistan.
what i can say about the WASHINGTON, i can only laugh on them.
Yes these 2 magazines have agents in Pakistan that obtained info on our nukes whereabouts. Highly believable. Not. ET please don't publish this type of stuff as main headline.
what about US missing nukes, which poses threat to people till this day. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7158
This is so idiotic that it maybe true.
Sheer madness. Trust me its their frustration of not getting hold of information about our nuclear warheads. OBLs game everyone knows. Saddam and Gaddhafis deaths were publicized while OBL was thrown into sea. This is not a game of Lego.