Patriots
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Saudi Arabia has invested in Pakistani nuclear weapons projects, and believes it could obtain atomic bombs at will, a variety of sources have told BBC Newsnight.
While the kingdom's quest has often been set in the context of countering Iran's atomic programme, it is now possible that the Saudis might be able to deploy such devices more quickly than the Islamic republic.
Earlier this year, a senior Nato decision maker told me that he had seen intelligence reporting that nuclear weapons made in Pakistan on behalf of Saudi Arabia are now sitting ready for delivery.
Last month Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, told a conference in Sweden that if Iran got the bomb, "the Saudis will not wait one month. They already paid for the bomb, they will go to Pakistan and bring what they need to bring."
Since 2009, when King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia warned visiting US special envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross that if Iran crossed the threshold, "we will get nuclear weapons", the kingdom has sent the Americans numerous signals of its intentions.
Gary Samore, until March 2013 President Barack Obama's counter-proliferation adviser, has told Newsnight:
"I do think that the Saudis believe that they have some understanding with Pakistan that, in extremis, they would have claim to acquire nuclear weapons from Pakistan."
The story of Saudi Arabia's project - including the acquisition of missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads over long ranges - goes back decades.
In the late 1980s they secretly bought dozens of CSS-2 ballistic missiles from China.
These rockets, considered by many experts too inaccurate for use as conventional weapons, were deployed 20 years ago.
This summer experts at defence publishersJane'sreported the completion of a new Saudi CSS-2 base with missile launch rails aligned with Israel and Iran.
It has also been clear for many years that Saudi Arabia has given generous financial assistance to Pakistan's defence sector, including, western experts allege, to its missile and nuclear labs.
Visits by the then Saudi defence minister Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz al Saud to the Pakistani nuclear research centre in 1999 and 2002 underlined the closeness of the defence relationship.
BBC News - Saudi nuclear weapons 'on order' from Pakistan
Pakistan denies reports Saudis funded nuclear program
Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday strongly denied reports that Saudi Arabia funded the country’s nuclear weapons program calling the news item as “baseless, fake and provocative.”
Citing different sources,BBC Newsnighthad reportedthat Saudi Arabia can obtain atomic bombs from Pakistan 'at will.'
Speaking toBBC Urdu, Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry said that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear power.
The country has a robust control system for its nuclear weapons and also had taken extensive protection measures for ensuring their security, the spokesman said.
He also said the country’s nuclear program is at par with the international standards and in compliance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Pakistan has been disposing off the west’s reservations regarding safety of the country’s nuclear assets, stressing that these were in safe hands.
Referring to his conversation with an unnamed Nato official earlier this year, diplomatic and defence editor of Newsnight Mark Urban said the official had seen such covert reports which point to a deal between Saudis and Pakistan.
According to those reports, he said, Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are ready to be delivered to Saudi Arabia.
A press conference by former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin was also highlighted in the report. Yadlin had told the media that Saudis will not even wait for a month in acquiring the atomic bomb in case Iran succeeds in making one. He said Pakistan had already been paid by the Saudis in that regard.
However, Gary Samore, former advisor to US President Barrack Obama on counter-proliferation, ruled out the notion, saying Pakistanis and Saudis did not have that kind of an understanding between them.
Riyadh has long had an interest in Islamabad’s nuclear programme. In 1999, then Saudi Defence Minister Prince Sultan was welcomed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the Kahuta plant, where Pakistan produces highly enriched uranium.
After being overthrown by the military later the same year, Sharif is now back again as prime minister – after spending years in exile in Saudi Arabia.
US officials had been suspicious of Saudi intent to gain nuclear warhead from Pakistan after it bought long-range CSS-2 ballistic missiles from China.
Pakistan denies reports Saudis funded nuclear program - DAWN.COM
While the kingdom's quest has often been set in the context of countering Iran's atomic programme, it is now possible that the Saudis might be able to deploy such devices more quickly than the Islamic republic.
Earlier this year, a senior Nato decision maker told me that he had seen intelligence reporting that nuclear weapons made in Pakistan on behalf of Saudi Arabia are now sitting ready for delivery.
Last month Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence, told a conference in Sweden that if Iran got the bomb, "the Saudis will not wait one month. They already paid for the bomb, they will go to Pakistan and bring what they need to bring."
Since 2009, when King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia warned visiting US special envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross that if Iran crossed the threshold, "we will get nuclear weapons", the kingdom has sent the Americans numerous signals of its intentions.
Gary Samore, until March 2013 President Barack Obama's counter-proliferation adviser, has told Newsnight:
"I do think that the Saudis believe that they have some understanding with Pakistan that, in extremis, they would have claim to acquire nuclear weapons from Pakistan."
The story of Saudi Arabia's project - including the acquisition of missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads over long ranges - goes back decades.
In the late 1980s they secretly bought dozens of CSS-2 ballistic missiles from China.
These rockets, considered by many experts too inaccurate for use as conventional weapons, were deployed 20 years ago.
This summer experts at defence publishersJane'sreported the completion of a new Saudi CSS-2 base with missile launch rails aligned with Israel and Iran.
It has also been clear for many years that Saudi Arabia has given generous financial assistance to Pakistan's defence sector, including, western experts allege, to its missile and nuclear labs.
Visits by the then Saudi defence minister Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz al Saud to the Pakistani nuclear research centre in 1999 and 2002 underlined the closeness of the defence relationship.
BBC News - Saudi nuclear weapons 'on order' from Pakistan
Pakistan denies reports Saudis funded nuclear program
Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Thursday strongly denied reports that Saudi Arabia funded the country’s nuclear weapons program calling the news item as “baseless, fake and provocative.”
Citing different sources,BBC Newsnighthad reportedthat Saudi Arabia can obtain atomic bombs from Pakistan 'at will.'
Speaking toBBC Urdu, Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Chaudhry said that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear power.
The country has a robust control system for its nuclear weapons and also had taken extensive protection measures for ensuring their security, the spokesman said.
He also said the country’s nuclear program is at par with the international standards and in compliance with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Pakistan has been disposing off the west’s reservations regarding safety of the country’s nuclear assets, stressing that these were in safe hands.
Referring to his conversation with an unnamed Nato official earlier this year, diplomatic and defence editor of Newsnight Mark Urban said the official had seen such covert reports which point to a deal between Saudis and Pakistan.
According to those reports, he said, Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are ready to be delivered to Saudi Arabia.
A press conference by former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin was also highlighted in the report. Yadlin had told the media that Saudis will not even wait for a month in acquiring the atomic bomb in case Iran succeeds in making one. He said Pakistan had already been paid by the Saudis in that regard.
However, Gary Samore, former advisor to US President Barrack Obama on counter-proliferation, ruled out the notion, saying Pakistanis and Saudis did not have that kind of an understanding between them.
Riyadh has long had an interest in Islamabad’s nuclear programme. In 1999, then Saudi Defence Minister Prince Sultan was welcomed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the Kahuta plant, where Pakistan produces highly enriched uranium.
After being overthrown by the military later the same year, Sharif is now back again as prime minister – after spending years in exile in Saudi Arabia.
US officials had been suspicious of Saudi intent to gain nuclear warhead from Pakistan after it bought long-range CSS-2 ballistic missiles from China.
Pakistan denies reports Saudis funded nuclear program - DAWN.COM