NEW DELHI: A US Congressional report has said that Pakistan is increasing and upgrading its nuclear arsenal which is mainly targeted at India.
This new claim adds weight to a recent assessment that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal could reach 100 weapons in a decade or so.
The latest report of the Congressional Research Service, a bipartisan research wing of the US Congress, said that Islamabad has a stockpile of around 60 atomic warheads and is making qualitative and quantitative improvements to its nuclear arsenal, according to reports.
In what is a further cause for worry for not just India but the international community, the report also maintained that Pakistan is likely to increase the number of circumstances under which it would be willing to use nuclear weapons first. Though Islamabad has pledged a no-first-use of nuclear weapons, it has not ruled out first use against a nuclear-armed “aggressor”, the report said.
The Congressional Research Service report, which is entitled “Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues”, said that the cue for Islamabad’s upgradation of its nuclear weaponry came from a Pakistani foreign office statement.
The US congressional report noted that the Pakistani foreign office spokesperson had said in a May 21 press briefing that though the Pakistani government’s is against a “nuclear or conventional arms race in South Asia,” it may need to increase its nuclear arsenal in response to India’s arms expansion. the spokesperson had further said that Islamabad would take all steps to safeguard its security. These remarks were made in response to India launching its first indigenously built nuclear-powered submarine on July 26.
The congressional report has said that this was indicative of Pakistan’s intention in the matter. The report also attempted to assess the impact of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal on Pakistan’s nuclear expansion plan but said that as Pakistan’s decision on nuclear facilities are not made public it was difficult to make an assessment.
The congressional report adds to the calculation of the Federation of American Scientists that Pakistan has a stockpile of 70 to 90 nuclear warheads and is busily enhancing its nuclear arsenal and reprocessing facilities. A report by a FAS scientist had estimated that in a decade or sooner Pakistan will have at least 100 nuclear warheads and also the missiles to launch these nuclear warheads.
The report had further pointed out that Islamabad is improving its weapon designs and moving beyond its first generation nuclear weapons. All these reports also come in the backdrop of the US accusation against Pakistan of altering US made missiles.
This new claim adds weight to a recent assessment that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal could reach 100 weapons in a decade or so.
The latest report of the Congressional Research Service, a bipartisan research wing of the US Congress, said that Islamabad has a stockpile of around 60 atomic warheads and is making qualitative and quantitative improvements to its nuclear arsenal, according to reports.
In what is a further cause for worry for not just India but the international community, the report also maintained that Pakistan is likely to increase the number of circumstances under which it would be willing to use nuclear weapons first. Though Islamabad has pledged a no-first-use of nuclear weapons, it has not ruled out first use against a nuclear-armed “aggressor”, the report said.
The Congressional Research Service report, which is entitled “Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues”, said that the cue for Islamabad’s upgradation of its nuclear weaponry came from a Pakistani foreign office statement.
The US congressional report noted that the Pakistani foreign office spokesperson had said in a May 21 press briefing that though the Pakistani government’s is against a “nuclear or conventional arms race in South Asia,” it may need to increase its nuclear arsenal in response to India’s arms expansion. the spokesperson had further said that Islamabad would take all steps to safeguard its security. These remarks were made in response to India launching its first indigenously built nuclear-powered submarine on July 26.
The congressional report has said that this was indicative of Pakistan’s intention in the matter. The report also attempted to assess the impact of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal on Pakistan’s nuclear expansion plan but said that as Pakistan’s decision on nuclear facilities are not made public it was difficult to make an assessment.
The congressional report adds to the calculation of the Federation of American Scientists that Pakistan has a stockpile of 70 to 90 nuclear warheads and is busily enhancing its nuclear arsenal and reprocessing facilities. A report by a FAS scientist had estimated that in a decade or sooner Pakistan will have at least 100 nuclear warheads and also the missiles to launch these nuclear warheads.
The report had further pointed out that Islamabad is improving its weapon designs and moving beyond its first generation nuclear weapons. All these reports also come in the backdrop of the US accusation against Pakistan of altering US made missiles.
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