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The truth about Pak nukes
By Irfan Asghar | Published: May 14, 2009
At the moment, the international community is experiencing a lot of paranoia about the vulnerability of Pakistan's nuclear stockpile. Some international affinity groups are painting nightmare scenarios in the event of extremists taking up the reins of Pakistan. Even Americans have got schizophrenic and are blowing hot and cold about Pakistan's nukes. If we have a sober reflection and non-partisan analysis, it comes out loud and clear that all these statements are hallucinatory observations and nothing short of being comical and off-key. The patent reality is that various international lobbies are doing a 'hatchet job' on Pakistan.
Before having a detailed discussion about Pakistan's foolproof safeguards over nuclear weapons, the writer wants to ask the international community an important question: Why the international community did not raise hue and cry and where was America's own command and control system when its Air Force unknowingly flew a bunch of nuclear weapons on a B-52 bomber across the country in August 2007. The weapons were left at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana for 36 hours with none of the special security required for nuclear devices. Those who live in glasshouses, should not hurl stones at others. Besides, the international community also needs to kill-off duplicity-based norms and behave like no respecter of persons.
As far as the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is concerned, it has made great strides in this regard. Its custodial arrangements in the domain of nuclear weapons are the best in the world. The security system is as good as that of any other nuclear state. Adequate safeguards have been institutionalized and there is not even a scintilla of ambiguity in the effectiveness of the command and control system over nuclear weapons programme. All this is because Pakistan is a responsible state which is fully mindful of the nuclear rules. It possesses entire protective hardware, has installed top-notch security system and made sure that only a very small group of authorized users can arm and detonate a nuclear weapon. The system is hundred percent fool-proof as it requires the would-be user to enter a numeric code that starts a timer for the weapon's arming and detonation. In addition to this, the nukes in Pakistan are not maintained on a hair-trigger alert. In times of peace the various parts of nukes are kept separately and the warheads are stored at a distance from the delivery system. In case of any emergency, the Pakistan Air Force has transport aircraft that can easily fly components of nuclear weapons to their relevant destinations for final assembly. Intrusion detectors and imaging equipment have also been set-up in Pakistan.
take note americans
By Irfan Asghar | Published: May 14, 2009
At the moment, the international community is experiencing a lot of paranoia about the vulnerability of Pakistan's nuclear stockpile. Some international affinity groups are painting nightmare scenarios in the event of extremists taking up the reins of Pakistan. Even Americans have got schizophrenic and are blowing hot and cold about Pakistan's nukes. If we have a sober reflection and non-partisan analysis, it comes out loud and clear that all these statements are hallucinatory observations and nothing short of being comical and off-key. The patent reality is that various international lobbies are doing a 'hatchet job' on Pakistan.
Before having a detailed discussion about Pakistan's foolproof safeguards over nuclear weapons, the writer wants to ask the international community an important question: Why the international community did not raise hue and cry and where was America's own command and control system when its Air Force unknowingly flew a bunch of nuclear weapons on a B-52 bomber across the country in August 2007. The weapons were left at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana for 36 hours with none of the special security required for nuclear devices. Those who live in glasshouses, should not hurl stones at others. Besides, the international community also needs to kill-off duplicity-based norms and behave like no respecter of persons.
As far as the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is concerned, it has made great strides in this regard. Its custodial arrangements in the domain of nuclear weapons are the best in the world. The security system is as good as that of any other nuclear state. Adequate safeguards have been institutionalized and there is not even a scintilla of ambiguity in the effectiveness of the command and control system over nuclear weapons programme. All this is because Pakistan is a responsible state which is fully mindful of the nuclear rules. It possesses entire protective hardware, has installed top-notch security system and made sure that only a very small group of authorized users can arm and detonate a nuclear weapon. The system is hundred percent fool-proof as it requires the would-be user to enter a numeric code that starts a timer for the weapon's arming and detonation. In addition to this, the nukes in Pakistan are not maintained on a hair-trigger alert. In times of peace the various parts of nukes are kept separately and the warheads are stored at a distance from the delivery system. In case of any emergency, the Pakistan Air Force has transport aircraft that can easily fly components of nuclear weapons to their relevant destinations for final assembly. Intrusion detectors and imaging equipment have also been set-up in Pakistan.
take note americans
