Pakistan, which possesses close to 120 Nuclear weapons, has the capability to expand its arsenal by 20 atomic weapons which pose a “thorny challenge” to the US interests, an American think-tank expert has said.
“The growth in Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities and the broadening of its deterrence objectives raise thorny challenges for US interests to prevent a nuclear explosion and to maintain effective security on nuclear weapons and materials,” Toby Dalton, co-director Nuclear Policy Programme, at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said.
In his testimony to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
during a Congressional hearing on Thursday on Pakistan, Dalton said Pakistan has the capability to expand its arsenal by 20 nuclear weapons every year.
Over the past decade, the nation - which possesses close to 120 nuclear weapons - had significantly expanded the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons, he said.
Dalton said Pakistan places increasing emphasis on nuclear weapons to counter Indian military threats.
“From Pakistan’s few official pronouncements on nuclear doctrine and statements by Government officials, it is clear that deterrence is understood to be
elastic: whenever the Indian threat grows, more or new nuclear capabilities are needed,” he said.
In his testimony, Dalton praised the safeguards put in place by the nation when it comes to protecting its nuclear arsenal.