Pakistan Urged Not To Use New Reactor For Weapons
Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Staff Writer Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The United States on Monday urged Pakistan not to expand its nuclear weapons program after a news report claimed that Islamabad was building a nuclear reactor able to fuel up to 50 atomic bombs a year. White House spokesman, Tony Snow, confirmed the report but did not comment on the fighter plane deal with the Southeast nation. The Washington Post, citing U.S.-based nuclear experts reported that the reactor could produce enough plutonium for 40 to 50 nuclear weapons a year, a 20-fold increase from Pakistan's current capabilities. "We have been aware of these plans and we discourage any use of that facility for military purposes, such as weapons development," said White House spokesman Tony Snow in reaction to the report. The report's release comes at a time when the Bush administration is facing opposition and criticism over the multi-billion dollar arms deal with Pakistan. Asked if Washington had sought Pakistani assurances that it wouldn't use the new reactor to produce plutonium for use in nuclear weapons, Snow said: "Not that I'm aware of." The move could signal a potential new escalation in the region's arms race between pits nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said it opposed a regional nuclear weapons arms race, but declined to deny the report that claimed Islamabad was expanding its atomic arms |
