Pakistan’s Nuclear Surge

[Stuge]

Even in the best of times, Pakistan’s nuclear-weapons program warrants alarm. But these are perilous days. At a moment of unprecedented misgiving between Washington and Islamabad, new evidence suggests that Pakistan’s nuclear program is barreling ahead at a furious clip. According to new commercial-satellite imagery obtained exclusively by NEWSWEEK, Pakistan is aggressively accelerating construction at the Khushab nuclear site, about 140 miles south of Islamabad. The images, analysts say, prove Pakistan will soon have a fourth operational reactor, greatly expanding plutonium production for its nuclear-weapons program. “The buildup is remarkable,” says Paul Brannan of the Institute for Science and International Security. “And that nobody in the U.S. or in the Pakistani government says anything about this—especially in this day and age—is perplexing.” Unlike Iran, which has yet to produce highly enriched uranium, or North Korea, which has produced plutonium but still lacks any real weapons capability, Pakistan is significantly ramping up its nuclear-weapons program. Eric Edelman, undersecretary of defense in the George W. Bush administration, puts it bluntly: “You’re talking about Pakistan even potentially passing France at some point. That’s extraordinary.” Pakistani officials say the buildup is a response to the threat from India, which is spending $50 billion over the next five years on its military. “But to say it’s just an issue between just India and Pakistan is divorced from reality,” says former senator Sam Nunn, who co-chairs the Nuclear Threat Initiative. “The U.S. and Soviet Union went through 40 years of the Cold War and came out every time from dangerous situations with lessons learned. Pakistan and India have gone through some dangerous times, and they have learned some lessons. But not all of them. Today, deterrence has fundamentally changed. The whole globe has a stake in this. It’s extremely dangerous.” It’s dangerous because Pakistan is also stockpiling fissile material, or bomb fuel. Since Islamabad can mine uranium on its own territory and has decades of enrichment know-how—beginning with the work of nuclear scientist A. Q. Khan—the potential for production is significant. Although the White House declined to comment, a senior U.S. congressional official who works on nuclear issues told NEWSWEEK that intelligence estimates suggest Pakistan has already developed enough fissile material to produce more than 100 warheads and manufacture between eight and 20 weapons a year. “There’s no question,” the official says, “it’s the fastest-growing program in the world.” What has leaders around the world especially worried is what’s popularly known as “loose nukes”—nuclear weapons or fissile material falling into the wrong hands. “There’s no transparency in how the fissile material is handled or transported,” says Mansoor Ijaz, who has played an active role in back-channel diplomacy between Islamabad and New Delhi. “And the amount—they have significant quantities—is what’s so alarming

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/05/15/fourth-nuclear-reactor-at-pakistan-s-khushab-site.html

[jonas10]

India is going the right way let these retards bleed their country's finances while we develop India. No nuclear war coming anytime soon and by 2020 India will be a very well off country and god willing Pakistan will disintegrate to a bunch of countries.

[zen]

I can see the headlines: Nukes go missing in Pakistan. I think this would be a dangerous situation for USA, if some psycho gets hold of just one of those nukes! USA/UN should try to get control of those nukes

[yoda]

what makes you think that these bozos will die hugging their nukes without pulling the trigger and taking down their neighbour

I don't think their military will do it, but if AQ/Taliban get a hold of on one of these and find a way to trigger it, I bet they wouldn't hesitate pulling it.

[bhanu]

I don't think their military will do it' date=' but if AQ/Taliban get a hold of on one of these and find a way to trigger it, I bet they wouldn't hesitate pulling it.[/quote'] Wow u r so niaive :haha:

[ravishingravi]

It is sh@# scary. It is turning into a lunatic state.

[EnterTheVoid]

First of all, why does India need 150 nukes? 10 or 20 not enough?

[bhanu]

First of all' date=' why does India need 150 nukes? 10 or 20 not enough?[/quote'] i tink u forgeting ur best friend china :two_thumbs_up:

[Khalpat]

i tink u forgeting ur best friend china :two_thumbs_up:

No China and India both countries have different priorities and both are looking into the larger role they can play in world economy. No way are they going to ruin their billion dollar trades by nuking at each other. Its the Pakis which is a matter of concern for everybody. EK garib aadmi sabse khatarnak hota hai as he has nothing to loose.

[zen]

The most threatened country in the world, Isreal, is happy with having 80 nukes. And we have Pak building more and more :hysterical: The chances of Pak military using the bomb on Ind are less (and that too at the risk of Ind relaliating and wiping Pak out of the map). The chances are that the bomb might go off at the Pak launch site and destory Pak itself :P .... What's more worrying is if some smart psycho (oxymoron) buys one of those nukes from Pak. It wouldn't be difficult to take it to the east cost of Russia and may be target Alaska.

[ravishingravi]

I am reminded of Dr Strangelove, if you know the Kubrick classic. Fiind a nut like Gen. Jack the Ripper is not a challenge in Pakistan. It is a scary situation folks

[straighttalk]

The most threatened country in the world, Isreal, is happy with having 80 nukes. And we have Pak building more and more :hysterical: The chances of Pak military using the bomb on Ind are less (and that too at the risk of Ind relaliating and wiping Pak out of the map). The chances are that the bomb might go off at the Pak launch site and destory Pak itself :P .... What's more worrying is if some smart psycho (oxymoron) buys one of those nukes from Pak. It wouldn't be difficult to take it to the east cost of Russia and may be target Alaska.

chances of that are happening are too remote...we as their neighbor should be more worried as chances are they will steal and fire next door..delhi is quite close isnt it

[jonas10]

The real hardcore terroristsi.e. the arabs dont really care about Kashmir. If anything these guys dream of wiping out Israel/America and parts of Europe. Pakistan will probably eventually do something stupid give the terrorists a nuke and it will go off in one of these places if any. The good news is that unlike the gutless Indian government these three places would wipe them out if they do such a thing and India progresses.

[moumotta]

They have plenty of terrorist sympathisers in their army and intelligence. One day a suicide bomber is sure to try and take hundreds of thousands of his co-believers to the promised luxuries of after life.

[ravishingravi]

The only hope I have is something like this happening if sh@# hits the fan Computer virus used to sabotage Iran's nuclear plans 'built by US and Israel' http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/computer-virus-used-to-sabotage-irans-nuclear-plans-built-by-us-and-israel/story-e6frg6so-1225989304785

[Guest Gunner]

I somehow see Pakistan as a strong hunter with a gun and India as a dawdling cow. The chances of a mortal gunshot are not that far away. I don't think India has the wherewithal to manage the Pakistani threat at all.

[Blueraphael]

I somehow see Pakistan as a strong hunter with a gun and India as a dawdling cow. The chances of a mortal gunshot are not that far away. I don't think India has the wherewithal to manage the Pakistani threat at all.

:hysterical: I see Pakistan as Loki without the backstory and India as Thor. If the two do end up against each other, there would be loads of collateral damage but India will come out tops. It is unlikely though. Pakistan couldn't launch an all out attack without world condemnation, especially now when their relationship with the USA is so precarious. On the other hand, India will not go on the offensive because of Pak-China relation. The only thing I see happening is either USA going after them or an iprovement in the situation over a long period of time. That would require from Pakistan a leader with some sense, an army that does not involve itself in politics and some serious steps to combat the terrorists within its borders. Presently, there is however a very real threat of nuclear weapons coming under terrorist control. If that happens, all hell will break loose and their would be some serious repurcussions for countries harbouring them. All sees very complicated to me and hope it never happens. I did hear some news about Obama having mobilised troops to take over nuclear weapons of pakistan if they were in any danger.

[Guest Gunner]

:hysterical: I see Pakistan as Loki without the backstory and India as Thor. If the two do end up against each other, there would be loads of collateral damage but India will come out tops. It is unlikely though. Pakistan couldn't launch an all out attack without world condemnation, especially now when their relationship with the USA is so precarious. On the other hand, India will not go on the offensive because of Pak-China relation. The only thing I see happening is either USA going after them or an iprovement in the situation over a long period of time. That would require from Pakistan a leader with some sense, an army that does not involve itself in politics and some serious steps to combat the terrorists within its borders. Presently, there is however a very real threat of nuclear weapons coming under terrorist control. If that happens, all hell will break loose and their would be some serious repurcussions for countries harbouring them. All sees very complicated to me and hope it never happens. I did hear some news about Obama having mobilised troops to take over nuclear weapons of pakistan if they were in any danger.

You really do have a lot more confidence in guys like MMS if you see India as Thor. I would see India as Thor if you had a strong leader on top who has the right moral compass.

[Rajiv]

Nukes are Deterrents, 1 blow is the end of it all..regardless of India having 100 or 150 Also, does India account for all the nukes in an honest manner? do we know we have more?

[vvvslaxman]

I can see the headlines: Nukes go missing in Pakistan. I think this would be a dangerous situation for USA, if some psycho gets hold of just one of those nukes! USA/UN should try to get control of those nukes

Nuke transfer expert Jimran Akmal dropped them while transferring