Pak develops second strike capability in probable nuclear conflict: US report

Washington, May 30 (ANI): Amid recent reports that it is rapidly adding to its nuclear stockpile, Pakistan has also developed second strike capability in case of a probable nuclear conflict.

A US congressional report has revealed that Pakistan has built hard and deeply buried storage and launch facilities to retain a second strike capability in a nuclear war.

The report which is published in two parts, the first dealing with Pakistan's efforts to develop latest weapons, and second with its survival strategies in a nuclear war, said Islamabad has also developed road-mobile missiles, and strengthened its air defence around strategic nuclear sites.

The report also revealed that Pakistan has put up several camouflage measures to safe guard its nuclear assets.

The report prepared by the Congressional Research Service also mentioned that former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf had ordered the country's nuclear arsenal be redeployed to 'at least six secret new locations' at the time when the United States was preparing to launch an attack on the Afghan Taliban after 9/11.

The report added that the risk of nuclear war in South Asia was very high during the 1999 Kargil war. It said the Pakistani military had begun preparing nuclear-tipped missiles during the conflict, The Dawn reports.

In the recent times, several experts have expressed their concerns about misuse of Pakistan's nuclear weapons, with the Taliban consistently inching closer towards Islamabad.

They believe that while nuclear weapons are currently under firm control, with warheads disassembled, technology could be proliferated by insiders during a crisis. (ANI)