Pakistan could soon emerge as World's 5th largest nuclear state: report


Islamabad/Washington, Sep 6(PTI): Pakistan currently has 140 to 150 nuclear warheads and the stockpile is expected to increase to 220 to 250 by 2025 if the current trend continues, according to a latest report by authors keeping a track of the country's nukes.

The current estimate of 140 to 150 nuclear weapons exceeds the projection made by the US Defence Intelligence Agency in 1999 that Pakistan would have 60 to 80 warheads by 2020.

"We estimate that the country's stockpile could more realistically grow to 220 to 250 warheads by 2025, if the current trend continues. If that happens, it would make Pakistan the world's fifth-largest nuclear weapon state," Hans M Kristensen, Robert S Norris and Julia Diamond said in the report 'Pakistani nuclear forces 2018'.

Kristensen, the lead author, is the director of the Nuclear Information Project with the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) in Washington, DC.

Over the past decade, the US assessment of nuclear weapons security in Pakistan appears to have changed considerably from confidence to concern, particularly as a result of the introduction of tactical nuclear weapons, the report said.

"With several delivery systems in development, four plutonium production reactors, and its uranium enrichment facilities expanding, however, Pakistan has a stockpile that will likely increase further over the next 10 years," says the report.

Pakistan continues to expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, more delivery systems and a growing fissile materials production industry, it said.

"Analysis of a large number of commercial satellite images of Pakistani army garrisons and air force bases shows what appear to be mobile launchers and underground facilities that might be related to nuclear forces," said the report.

The authors observe that the size of the increase will depend on many factors.

Two key factors will be how many nuclear-capable launchers Pakistan plans to deploy, and how much the Indian nuclear arsenal grows.

"Speculation that Pakistan may become the world's third-largest nuclear weapon state - with a stockpile of some 350 warheads a decade from now - are, we believe, exaggerated, not least because that would require a buildup two to three times faster than the growth rate over the past two decades," the authors said.

According to the report, Pakistan is modifying its nuclear posture with new short-range nuclear-capable weapon systems to counter military threats below the strategic level.

"The efforts seek to create a full-spectrum deterrent that is designed not only to respond to nuclear attacks, but also to counter an Indian conventional incursion onto Pakistani territory," it said.

"This development has created considerable concern in other countries, including the United States, which fears that it lowers the threshold for nuclear use in a military conflict with India," the report added.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Af,,, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    Pak need first Roti,kapda,makan than BOMB.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • prem, moodbidri

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    Pakistan ka PM, bhaagkar fenktaa hai aur apna PM, fenk kar bhaagtaa hai. Phir bhi hum Pakistan se aage the... aage hein... aur aage rahenge.

    No worries at all...

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Orton, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    Nothing to worry. We have walking 56 inch Feku Gas B*mber from mouth. He will make Pak Nuclear weapon Tusss.

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    First time in 71 years Pakistan has gone ahead of India ...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Critic, Mangaluru

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    Ye western log India aur pakistan ko bewakoof bana rahe hai. After all both the countries are in the race to purchase arms which is one of the leading income source for western states.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • roy pinto, mangalore

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    in terror 1st place ..........
    but new pak PM is much better and educated then feku modi....................

    DisAgree [20] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vineet, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    Wav,,, AUKAT ki baath kardiya aapne.... MOUKA MILA THO CHOUKA!!!!!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    Porkistan can't even manufacture a mixer grinder without Chinese help .
    Has anyone heard about Brahmos missile, this one is enough
    for erasing Pakistan from WORLD MAP!!

    DisAgree [8] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • HENRY MISQUITH, Bahrain

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    Numbers don't matter . Pakistan also has the maximum terrorists, rapists, illiterate goons and beggars. VERY SOON PORKISTAN HAS TO SELL THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO BUY FOOD..

    DisAgree [7] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nadeem, Udupi

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    Same like India brother .... According to servey ....
    Law n order r not followed for goons but for Muslims and Christians law n orders r mandatory ...
    Rape, murder ,lynching become their education .... Not only in such thinks but in official treatment too .... In those things India is very close to Pakistan...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anil, MP

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    If they are not using it means... What is its use....

    DisAgree [3] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Beowulf, Mangalore

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    What would anyone do with so many nuclear weapons??

    DisAgree [4] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Thu, Sep 06 2018

    They may sell them some equally rogue states

    DisAgree [4] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Pakistan could soon emerge as World's 5th largest nuclear state: report



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.