PAK’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM THREAT TO GLOBAL SECURITY: REPORT

Highlighting the constant terrorism, political instability and growing radicalization, a media report said that Pakistan qualifies as a nuclear unsafe country that can threaten global security.

While a country’s possession of nuclear capability should be marked with years of political maturity, institutional strength, restraint and an official adherence to no first use policy, Pakistan’s credentials are anything but satisfactory on all these counts, the report in Geopolitica said. The manner in which Tehreek-e-labaik (TLP) and Tehrik-i-taliban Pakistan (TTP) have forced the government to surrender to their demands during the last two years, the danger of them getting a foothold in the state’s decision making cannot be ignored, the report said, adding that, there is a growing apprehension of jihadis even taking control of Pakistani nuclear arsenal.

Talking about the growing radicalization, especially within the Pakistan army, the report said, “The gradual radicalization of the Pakistani army has also translated into instances of insiders aligning with jihadi organizations to strike the defence apparatus.”

The extent of terrorist infiltration in Pakistan’s nuclear-armed military became clear when terrorists, acting with alleged intelligence assistance from “insiders,” mounted an attack on one of Pakistan’s biggest naval bases, Mehran Naval Base near Karachi in 2011, the report said.

Another major risk emanates from the manner in which Pakistan has developed nuclear weapons, using technology stolen from western countries and procured from international grey networks.