‘Pak to be 5th largest nuke weapons state’

Pakistan’s stockpile of atomic warheads could increase to 220 to 250 by 2025, making it the world’s fifth-largest nuclear weapon state, according to a new report from the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

Though FAS’s latest report focused solely on Pakistan, an earlier report on global nuclear warhead inventories published in June had estimated that Pakistan currently has 150 atomic warheads, compared to 140 for India. It had also said in its earlier report that Pakistan, North Korea, China and India were among the countries that are increasing their warhead inventories.

The report “Pakistan nuclear forces 2018” stated that Pakistan’s current estimated stockpile of atomic warheads had already exceeded the US Defense Intelligence Agency’s projection in 1999 that the country would have 60 to 80 warheads by 2020.

“We estimate that (Pakistan’s) stockpile could more realistically grow to 220 to 250 warheads by 2025, if the current trend continues. If that happens, it would make Pakistan the world’s fifthlargest nuclear weapon state,” said the report authored by Hans M Kristensen, director of FAS’ Nuclear Information Project, Robert Norris and Julia Diamond. The report added, “Over the past decade, the US assessment of nuclear weapons security in Pakistan appears to have changed considerably from confidence to concern, particularly as a result of the introduction of tactical weapons.”

Pakistan, the report said, is “modifying its nuclear posture with new short-range nuclear-capable weapon systems to counter military threats below the strategic level”.

The weapons can be delivered by combat aircraft such as F-16s, land-based ballistic missiles, ground, air and sea-launched cruise missiles. HTC