Daily Times

WASHINGTON – Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal consists of approximately 110 to 130 India-specific nuclear warheads, said American media quoting a latest US Congressional Research Service report on Friday.

“Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal probably consists of approximately 110-130 nuclear warheads, although it could have more,” the report read, adding that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is widely regarded as designed to dissuade India from taking military action against Pakistan.

Although Pakistan’s nuclear programme is widely regarded as designed to deter India, its arch-rival, from launching any nuclear misadventure against the country, but its expansion and development of new types of nuclear weapons and adoption of a doctrine called “full spectrum deterrence” have led some observers to express concern about an increased risk of a nuclear conflict between the two nations, the report said.

“Islamabad is producing fissile material, adding to related production facilities, deploying additional nuclear weapons and new types of delivery vehicles,” said the report authored by Paul K Kerr and Mary Beth Nikitin.

In recent years, Pakistan has taken some strong measures, including strengthening of export control laws, improved personnel security and international nuclear security cooperation programmes, to bolster the security of its nuclear arsenal which has received global acclamation.

However, the report said that a number of recent terrorist incidents have cast doubts in the durability of the measures taken by Pakistan to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear arsenal.

The report also said that India is also constantly engaged in expanding its nuclear weapons and capabilities which may jeopardize the peace and stability in the region. “Continued Indian nuclear weapons development could jeopardize strategic stability between the two countries,” it warned.

Pakistan and India had been arch-rivals since gaining independence from Britain in 1947 and have fought three wars against each other.