The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, has confirmed reports that Pakistan is increasing its nuclear weapons programme.
The confirmation came during a Senate Armed Services committee hearing on Thursday when Democrat senator Jim Webb, an expert on defence
issues, raised fears that Pakistan is adding to the nuclear weapons it traditionally has pointed toward India, and questioned whether US aid could be funding it.
Noting reports that Pakistan "may be actually adding on their weapon systems and warheads" Webb asked: "Do you have any evidence of that?" "Yes," Mullen answered. The US has urged Pakistan to focus on the extremist threat instead of India. “Historically, they haven't done that,” Mullen said. “So right now, I'm encouraged by what's happened, but I certainly withhold any judgment about where it goes.” IANS