More Pakistani Nuclear Fears

The lead article in today’s New York Times is titled, “Pakistani Strife Raises U.S. Doubt on Nuclear Arms.” It describes American fears about the Taliban and their ability to steal a Pakistani nuclear weapon.

This article includes a lot of details about Pakistan’s nuclear program and infrastructure as well as the reasons for U.S. insecurity about the matter. Apparently, Pakistan possesses 60 to 100 nuclear weapons, and they are widely dispersed throughout the country. The President, Asif Ali Zardar, is titular head for their security, but they are controlled in reality by the head of the army, General Kayani, the former head of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI.

There are many valid reasons for the U.S. fear. The United States has never been fully informed about the locations of all the nuclear weapons. An inter-government program to ensure the security of the nukes is years behind schedule. And the insurgents increasing power in the country increases the possibility of someone infiltrating the security personnel.

The scenario that might occur: rising tensions with India will lead to the transport of nuclear weapons (as it has done before), and this is when they are most vulnerable.

A scary thought to say the least. And Pakistani assurances have been proven wrong in the past, such as when they denied that their scientist, Abdul Khan, might be responsible for selling nuclear technology on the black market. That turned out to be true.

It remains to be seen what the U.S. can do other than worry …