Pakistan to have 200 nuclear weapons by 2020: US think tank
By PTI | 23 Nov, 2014, 10.43PM IST
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has
the fastest growing nuclear weapons programme in the world and by 2020
it could have enough fissile material to produce more than 200 nuclear
devices, a top American think tank has said.
“Though many states are downsising their stockpiles, Asia is witnessing a buildup. Pakistan has the fastest-growing nuclear programme in the world. By 2020, it could have a stockpile of fissile material that, if weaponized, could produce as many as 200 nuclear devices,” Council on Foreign Relations has said.
“Though many states are downsising their stockpiles, Asia is witnessing a buildup. Pakistan has the fastest-growing nuclear programme in the world. By 2020, it could have a stockpile of fissile material that, if weaponized, could produce as many as 200 nuclear devices,” Council on Foreign Relations has said.
The report ‘Strategic
Stability in the Second Nuclear Age’, authored by George Mason
University’s Gregory Koblentz, has identified South Asia as the region
“most at risk of a breakdown in strategic stability due to an explosive
mixture of unresolved territorial disputes, cross-border terrorism, and
growing nuclear arsenals.”
Pakistan, the report said, has deployed or is developing 11 delivery systems for its nuclear warheads, including aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
Pakistan, the report said, has deployed or is developing 11 delivery systems for its nuclear warheads, including aircraft, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
“Pakistan has not formally declared the conditions under which it would
use nuclear weapons but has indicated that it seeks primarily to deter
India from threatening its territorial integrity or the ability of its
military to defend its territory,” the report said.
CFR said while Pakistan is focused predominantly on the threat posed by India, it is reportedly also concerned by the potential for the US to launch a military operation to seize or disarm Pakistani nuclear weapons.
CFR said while Pakistan is focused predominantly on the threat posed by India, it is reportedly also concerned by the potential for the US to launch a military operation to seize or disarm Pakistani nuclear weapons.
CFR said India is estimated to possess enough fissile material for
between 90 and 110 nuclear weapons and is expanding its fissile material
production capacity.
China, it said, is estimated to have 250 nuclear weapons for delivery by a mix of medium, intermediate, and intercontinental-range ballistic missiles and bombers.
China, it said, is estimated to have 250 nuclear weapons for delivery by a mix of medium, intermediate, and intercontinental-range ballistic missiles and bombers.
“Though nuclear arsenals are shrinking in the rest of the world,
Asia is witnessing a nuclear buildup. Unlike the remaining P5 countries,
China is increasing and diversifying its nuclear arsenal,” the report
said.
