Pakistan`s President Pervez Musharraf ordered an emergency redeployment of the country`s nuclear arsenal following the start of the US-led military campaign in Afghanistan, ‘The Washington Post’ reported on Sunday. The government moved Pakistan nuclear weapons to at least six secret new locations and reorganised military oversight of the nuclear forces in the weeks since Pakistan joined the US campaign against terrorism, senior officials in Islamabad told the daily. The government is fearful of possible strikes against the country`s nuclear facilities, and worry that its nuclear devices and fissile material could be vulnerable to attack or theft. Pakistan`s military also underwent a shakeup beginning on October 7 to sideline officers considered too sympathetic to the Taliban or other extremist religious factions, officials said.
The post reported that Pakistan is believed to have the materials to assemble between 30 and 40 warheads.
Islamabad has test-fired intermediate-range missiles that potentially could be used to launch them said the daily, citing intelligence reports and nuclear experts.
Bureau Report