Can you draw out a possible future change in Geo-political scenario where US can mount a succesful grab of our Nuclear Weapons? It woul be interesting to debate it.
Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are reportedly stored unassembled, with the fissile core separated from the non-nuclear explosives.These components are stored separately from delivery vehicles.
Pakistan’s command and control over its nuclear weapons is compartmentalized and includes strict operational security. Pakistan’s command and control system is based on “C4I2SR” (command, control, communication, computers, intelligence,information, surveillance and reconnaissance). The system has three components —the National Command Authority (NCA), the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), and
the Strategic Forces Commands.The NCA was created in 2000 and for the first time the nuclear program was under military control with oversight. The SPD acts as the secretariat for the NCA and coordinates with the strategic forces commands.
The Army, Air Force, and Navy each have their respective strategic force command,but operational control remain with the NCA. The authority to launch a nuclear strike requires consensus within the NCA. The NCA is a 10-member body, which consists of the President, Prime Minister, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, the Ministers of Defense, Interior and Finance, the Director-General of the Strategic Plans Division, and the Commanders of the Army, Air Force and Navy.The NCA
Chairman, who is the President of Pakistan, casts the final vote.
On December 13, 2007, President Musharraf formalized these authorities and structure in the “National Command Authority Ordinance, 2007.The NCA was established by administrative order, but now has a legal basis. Analysts point out that the timing of this ordinance was meant to help the command and control system weather political transitions and potentially preserve the military’s strong control over the system.
The Ordinance also addresses the problem of the proliferation of nuclear expertise and personnel reliability. It outlines punishable offenses related to breach of confidentiality or leakage of “secured information,” gives the SPD authority to investigate suspicious conduct, states that punishment can be up to 25 years imprisonment, and applies to both serving and retired personnel, including military personnel, notwithstanding any other laws. As a result, Pakistani authorities say that the Ordinance should strengthen their control over strategic organizations and their personnel.