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Pakistan’s Fourth Nuclear Reactor Has India Worried

angeldemon_007

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NEW DELHI: Pakistan is focusing on building low-yield, tactical nuclear weapons which it can use in case of skirmishes at the border with India. After disclosures that Pakistan is building its fourth reactor at the Khushab military facility, fresh estimates made by security and intelligence officials here suggest that Pakistan now has the capability to add 8-10 such weapons in its kitty every year.

The figure is likely to go up considerably once the new reactor becomes operational in less than two years. Latest satellite images revealed recently that Pakistan has expedited work on the fourth reactor, a plutonium producing facility.

The news is a surprise, if not shock, to the government here. Its belief, based on assessment by top scientists, was that Pakistan was unlikely to undertake this sort of expansion as it did not have enough uranium.

Pakistan is internationally acknowledged to have a nuclear arsenal of 100 weapons but the recent focus on low-yield, also known as tactical, weapons has become a source of worry for India.

Former chief of joint intelligence committee S D Pradhan, who has closely followed Pakistan's nuclear-weapon program, says Pakistan's desire for such weapons is one of the main reasons for the acceleration of its nuclear program.

"They are following the Chinese model of having low-yield nuclear weapons. Pakistan believes these weapons will provide it a flexible response in case of an escalation with India and allow it to dominate," says Pradhan.

Officials and experts believe Pakistan will use it only in the case of any incursion made by Indian forces into Pakistani territory or what is known as India's cold start doctrine. In the event of another Mumbai-like terrorist attack, there is going to be real pressure on India to mount such an incursion and strike some of the terror camps.

Indian officials said the manner in which Pakistan has carried out work on the fourth reactor, of which there was no trace as late as 2009, suggest a constant supply or uranium and that this could only have been made possible by China. "The cost involved is too high and then, of course, the amount of uranium required. It's too much for Pakistan to achieve without support from China," said a senior government official.

Pakistan's fourth nuclear reactor has India worried - The Times of India
 
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comments under the article r hurtful
 
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but then again,it depends on the level of technology pakistan has at itz disposal to undertake any construction of nuclear reactors
,though pakistan can always ask china to install their 300mw class nuclear reactors,and may be,their 1000mw class(once china is done with itz development),but what is important is,pakistan's indigenous effort in producing viable reactor designs like the russian VVVER-1000 or indian 700mw PHWR,this will surely reduce their dependency on foreign players...

---------- Post added at 02:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:04 AM ----------

ooops,sorry,typo...*VVER-1000
 
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The Khushab reactor can produce 19-24 nuclear weapons/year
 
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Me being an instrumentation and control engineer,advocate the peaceful use of nuclear energy,in my opinion,any developing economy needs these reactors,and india and pakistan have all the rights to produce electricity outta it,though it ultimately comes down to the question of technology available to one specific country,but in long run,rigorous r&d,and indigenous designs,will make that country self reliant and may be that country can commercialize those reactors(like the way russians did with their VVER-1000 series)

---------- Post added at 02:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:10 AM ----------

@cb4,SIR,it's always better if nuclear technology is used for peaceful purposes...:-)
 
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well it will produce electricity and thats what matters dont get why india is so worried
 
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i even support IRAN on their nuclear energy programme,though it must be under IAEA's safeguards,but when you developing a cut edge technology or design,the IAEA does become a headache to deal with...i mean,you wouldnt like IAEA to have a check into your facilities which you so painstakingly developed over the years...
something similar happened to india's FBR(fast breeder reactor) programme,when uncle sam tried to pursue india to,open up itz door for IAEA's inspection at FBR assembly in kalpakkam...FBR at present can produce 550MW OF nuclear energy outta thorium,itz doubling time is about 8-10 years that it produces the same amount of fissile material which it consumes in about 8years

---------- Post added at 02:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:22 AM ----------

@saiyan,bro,well,i think,these are a few journalists who are worried,but khusab is specifically designed for producing fissile material for weapon purpose,it is NOT a commercial reactor intended for producing electricity

---------- Post added at 02:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:25 AM ----------

maybe i am over optimistic,but i look forward to that day,when the relation between india and pakistan are normalized to that level that india is able to export itz 700mw PHWRs or 550mw FBRs to pakistan(offcourse under IAEAs safeguards!!)
 
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they have complete right to build nuclear plants and also uranium for nuclear bombs. after all nuclear weapon is the only scientific achievement they had in 65 years and they should be proud of it. go pak:pakistan:
 
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they have complete right to build nuclear plants and also uranium for nuclear bombs. after all nuclear weapon is the only scientific achievement they had in 65 years and they should be proud of it. go pak:pakistan:

ha ha ha i smell something is burning!!!
 
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There is nothing burning, instead of competing militarily, our nations should compete technologically(in civilian sector), I mean, so that, end user is benefitted..:)
 
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they have complete right to build nuclear plants and also uranium for nuclear bombs. after all nuclear weapon is the only scientific achievement they had in 65 years and they should be proud of it. go pak:pakistan:

He is actually right, what do Pakistanis have to show for the past 64 years? Nuke Weapons? Really? Is that what Pakistanis want to be known for?

Why not a country that doubled it's literacy rate in "X" years? Or became Industrialized in a generation? Too much to ask for or are Pakistanis too lazy? Better to blame the Corrupt Politicians and Military Chiefs?

Hell, America more than doubled in size in less than that time. :p (Bought Louisiana Territory).
China is an economic powerhouse, India is almost there. <---- Foreign Leaders ask to visit those countries.

btw... this thread was opened a year ago....
 
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Th&#601;or&#601;tic Muslim;2674855 said:
He is actually right, what do Pakistanis have to show for the past 64 years? Nuke Weapons? Really? Is that what Pakistanis want to be known for?

Why not a country that doubled it's literacy rate in "X" years? Or became Industrialized in a generation? Too much to ask for or are Pakistanis too lazy? Better to blame the Corrupt Politicians and Military Chiefs?

Hell, America more than doubled in size in less than that time. :p (Bought Louisiana Territory).
China is an economic powerhouse, India is almost there. <---- Foreign Leaders ask to visit those countries.

btw... this thread was opened a year ago....


we pakistanis have potential but all thanks to this politicians since 50s that we are in such a state! and i dont understand why America is so worried of **** nukes? i mean there is so such leak as nuclear bombs ends in extremists hand! whereas there have been illegal transportation of nuclear teachnology from your nuclear plants and you called us an unstable state! thats totally unfair! and dont you have to worry our nukes command and control is extreeeeemly reliable no matter what the bullshit IAEA or any country is saying!
yes we made this nuclear technology and we know we seeked help from china, nkorea and others but we made it because of india! thats the bloody truth because india wont let us live in peace since we once were a part of india!!!
 
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Th&#601;or&#601;tic Muslim;2674855 said:
He is actually right, what do Pakistanis have to show for the past 64 years? Nuke Weapons? Really? Is that what Pakistanis want to be known for?

Why not a country that doubled it's literacy rate in "X" years? Or became Industrialized in a generation? Too much to ask for or are Pakistanis too lazy? Better to blame the Corrupt Politicians and Military Chiefs?

Hell, America more than doubled in size in less than that time. :p (Bought Louisiana Territory).
China is an economic powerhouse, India is almost there. <---- Foreign Leaders ask to visit those countries.

btw... this thread was opened a year ago....

thanks buddy u explained in a much better way. i think pakistan should try to first compete with muslim powerhouses like turkey and iran. it is decades behind both of them in every field except nuclear weapons. talking about pakistan with india, china, america in the same line is definitely not a smart thing. it doesnot fit in the league. i want pak to prosper but not at cost of india. :pakistan::pakistan:
 
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