Indo-Pak arms race | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Indo-Pak arms race

None | ByIndo-Asian News Service, Islamabad
Jul 25, 2006 02:02 PM IST

Pakistan has linked the US report suggesting that it is building a powerful nuclear reactor to its race with neighbour India.

Pakistan has linked a US report suggesting that it is building a powerful nuclear reactor to its race with neighbour India, saying it was New Delhi, and not Islamabad, that introduced the nuclear weapons state in South Asia.

HT Image
HT Image

Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam defended Pakistan's standpoint, saying it was "not the first country" to introduce nuclear weapons into South Asia.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

She was apparently referring to India, The News said.

Taking a what's-new-about-it stance, she avoided directly answering questions posed on the report's findings.

"This ought to be no revelation to anyone because Pakistan is a nuclear weapon state," Aslam said. "(But) I have no specific comments on Pakistan's facilities."

"We were not the first to test nuclear weapons in this region and that remains our position," Aslam said, adding: "We do not want an arms race in this region."

The Washington Post newspaper reported Monday, citing independent analysts, that Pakistan is building a powerful nuclear reactor for producing plutonium.

Summing up Aslam's non-committal reaction to the report, The News pointed out: "But the Post quoted a senior Pakistani official as acknowledging a nuclear expansion was under way."

"Satellite photos of Pakistan's Khushab nuclear site show what appears to be a partially completed heavy-water reactor capable of producing enough plutonium for 40 to 50 nuclear weapons a year, a 20-fold increase from Pakistan's current capabilities," the Post said on its website, citing a technical assessment by Washington-based nuclear experts.

If verified, the move would signal a potential new escalation in the region's arms race, the newspaper observed.

Reacting to the Post report, the White House on Monday sought to discourage Pakistan from expanding its nuclear weapons programme.

"We have been aware of these plans and we discourage any use of that facility for military purposes, such as weapons development," news agencies said quoting White House spokesman Tony Snow.

At the same time, he noted that Pakistan has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty "and, therefore, they do develop their capabilities independently".

Asked whether the United States had sought assurances from Pakistan that it wouldn't use the new reactor to produce plutonium for use in nuclear weapons, Snow said, "Not that I'm aware of."

Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on Election 2024, India News, Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On