| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan Rapidly Increasing Its Nuclear Arsenal |
| 2011-10-02 |
| The best estimates of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal are that the country has about a hundred warheads, and has already produced sufficient fissile material to manufacture another hundred. Pakistan is also building new nuclear facilities and delivery systems, including ballistic missiles, and expanding its output of fissile material. As part of the latter process, Pakistan is building three more heavy-water power reactors at its Khushab nuclear complex to generate additional weapons-grade plutonium. Pakistan’s two existing reactors already manufacture about two dozen kilograms of plutonium annually, which Pakistani technicians use to make as many as four nuclear weapons each year. Pakistan wants to produce more advanced miniaturized warheads, which are easier to move and fire at more distant targets. Smaller, more sophisticated nuclear warheads require the use of plutonium rather than highly-enriched uranium. With new reactors and a reprocessing facility under (re)construction, Pakistan’s rate of production is considered the highest in the world. Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal has doubled to approximately 70 to 120 warheads over the last four years, with the capacity to produce an additional 7 to 14 weapons annually. The construction of the three additional heavy-water reactors, which will manufacture weapons-grade plutonium for decades, should propel Pakistan past India and make Islamabad the fourth or fifth largest possessor of nuclear weapons. Russia, the United States, and China will have more nuclear weapons than Pakistan, but Pakistan’s nuclear weapons total should surpass that of the major European nuclear powers of Britain and France as well as that of India. Although the primary purpose of Pakistan’s nuclear arms build-up is to counter India, suspicions also exist that Islamabad wants to pressure Washington not to ignore it, move too close to India, or take other actions that Islamabad opposes. Another objective is to continue to receive US financial and other assistance despite their bilateral disputes over Afghanistan or terrorism. But Islamabad may also see a larger nuclear weapons arsenal as a means to guard against any US effort to seize, disable, or destroy Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal—a concern that Pakistanis now openly express. One Pakistani concern is that a freeze on the production of new fissile material would place Pakistan at a distinct disadvantage vis-a-vis India. Although the nuclear warhead totals of both countries are roughly equal, India has a larger stockpile of fissile material thanks to its beginning such production earlier. Pakistanis also complain that the Indian-US nuclear cooperation agreement and similar international nuclear deals with India will place New Delhi in a superior position unless all stockpiles are eliminated. In return for India’s cooperation on a number of nuclear non-proliferation measures, these deals permit India to import dual-use technology as well fuel for its nuclear reactors. Complemented by a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the deals will integrate India into international markets for trade in nuclear fuel and technology. Only China, Islamabad’s long-time great power patron, is prepared to assist Pakistan’s nuclear programme, and Beijing is being pressured by other governments to end this cooperation. Pakistan presently operates three known centres of plutonium production: the pilot Pakistan Research Reactor (PARR) III, known as ‘New Labs,’ attached to the PINSTECH Laboratory; the two active reactors at the Khushab Nuclear Complex; and a probable nuclear reprocessing facility at the Chashma Nuclear Site. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #8 "One day, they will use one by design, theft or accident and will find that much of their country will become a roentgen soup bowl because if it." On the bright side, AP, they wouldn't be around to notice.... ;-p |
| Posted by: Barbara 2011-10-02 22:51 |
| #7 So these nutcase countries like Pakistan believe that the only way to respect is to possess nuclear weapons with threats of use. The thing that they never will learn is that possession of nuclear weapons has responsibilities greater than the power of the weapons. One day, they will use one by design, theft or accident and will find that much of their country will become a roentgen soup bowl because if it. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2011-10-02 22:42 |
| #6 Caliphate-wannabe FUTURE ISLAMIST NUCLEAR ASIA = NEW COMMIE/SOVIET BLOC, albeit Faith-based??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-10-02 20:14 |
| #5 Well, they did meet with the Saudi's just last week. Interesting scenario Glenmore. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2011-10-02 19:35 |
| #4 Will Pakistan become the leader of the Islamic world by building nukes and deploying them throughout the Islamic world? And then daring the West to stop any conventional assaults - across Europe etc.? |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2011-10-02 19:30 |
| #3 Allan will provide - if you're sufficiently Islamic and have enough nukes to extort aid. I say F' Em |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-10-02 18:51 |
| #2 This is why Pakistain doesn't have any electricity for the rest of their population. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2011-10-02 18:28 |
| #1 That spike in the Copper price? Was it for this? |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2011-10-02 18:10 |