Washington: Pakistan is estimated to have
more nuclear warheads than India and the two Asian neighbours
along with China are increasing their arsenals and deploying
weapons at more sites, two eminent American nuclear experts
have said.
While Pakistan is estimated to possess 70-90 nuclear
weapons, India is believed to have 60-80, claims Robert S
Norris and Hans M Kristensen in their latest article `Nuclear
Notebook: Worldwide deployments of nuclear weapons, 2009`.
The article published in the latest issue of `Bulletin of
the Atomic Science` claimed that Beijing, Islamabad, and New
Delhi are quantitatively and qualitatively increasing their
arsenals and deploying weapons at more sites, yet the
locations are difficult to pinpoint.
For example, no reliable public information exists on
where Pakistan or India produces its nuclear weapons, it said.
"Whereas many of the Chinese bases are known, this is not
the case in Pakistan and India, where we have found no
credible information that identifies permanent nuclear weapons
storage locations," they said.
"Pakistan`s nuclear weapons are not believed to be fully
operational under normal circumstances, India is thought to
store its nuclear warheads and bombs in central storage
locations rather than on bases with operational forces. But,
since all three countries are expanding their arsenals, new
bases and storage sites probably are under construction," the
two nuclear experts said.
Bureau Report
