Pakistan Expanding Nuclear Arsenal

I'm sure this will not make me sleep better at night. Pakistan is busy expanding and enhancing its nuclear arsenal, much of which is directed at neighboring India.

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The report states that Pakistan is readying a new nuclear capable ballistic missile for deployment and two nuclear capable cruise missiles.

It also says that Pakistan is building two new plutonium production reactors and a second chemical separation facility.

The nuclear weapon facilities that are being expanded are located in Chasma, Khushab and Dera Ghazi Khan in southern Punjab.

Pakistan, according to the report by top strategic experts, is renewing work on a partially built separation plant at Chasma, and is also planning to build three more nuclear reactors at Chasma.

The details of three separate nuclear facilities at Khushab, Chasma and Dera Ghazi Khan have not been available in the public domain till now, and expose Pakistan’s secretive attempts to build up a substantial arsenal, likely to target India.

With regard to Khushab – the report says the country is building two heavy water reactors at the site which will more than triple the nation’s plutonium production and processing capability. Plutonium is one of the main fuels for nuclear weapons. The nuclear reactor will thus become a source while the under construction separation facility nearby, a means to purify the plutonium.

Keep in mind that Pakistan has a major problem with terrorists, particularly the Taliban and al Qaeda, both of which were involved in multiple attacks against Pakistan's nuclear infrastructure over the past two years. Estimates of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal have been all over the map though all fall short of 100 weapons, although the newest estimates now suggest that Pakistan has 70 to 90 weapons and has the capability to bring that firepower to bear with a new class of missiles, including cruise missiles and intermediate range ballistic missiles.

Pakistan is clearly pursuing a strategy that has the effect of further destabilizing South Asia and promoting an arms race between rival India and Pakistan.