Pakistan Dramatically Expanding Its Nuclear Weapons Capabilities
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The Institute for Science and International Security has revealed startling satellite photos showing construction of what appears to be a reactor at Pakistan's Khushab nuclear site, which, when finished, is capable of producing enough plutonium to create 40 to 50 nuclear weapons a year. The analysis of the Washington-based nuclear experts was published in Monday's issue of the Washington Post and said the expansion of the nuclear reactor would increase Pakistan's nuclear capabilities 20 times over. It could also lead to an arms race in South Asia, the paper cited. David Albright and Paul Brennan of the institute concluded in their report, "South Asia may be heading for a nuclear arms race that could lead to arsenals growing into the hundreds of nuclear weapons, or at minimum, vastly expanded stockpiles of military fissile material." On Monday, a Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman told the Agance France-Press that her country opposes a nuclear and conventional weapons arms race in South Asia. However, she refused to comment on the report. She said, "This ought to be no revelation to anyone because Pakistan is a nuclear weapon state. I have no specific comments on Pakistan's facilities." The spokeswoman insist her country was not the first to introduce nuclear weapons into South Asia. The Post also quoted a senior Pak |
