Pakistan stops short of denying nuclear expansion

Satellite photos released on Tuesday show Pakistan has expanded two sites crucial to its nuclear programme as part of an effort to bolster the destructive power of its atomic arsenal, a US arms control institute said. Photo courtesy Digitalglobe - ISIS.

Pakistan stopped short Thursday of denying reports it has expanded its nuclear programme, accusing India of disturbing the regional balance and compelling Islamabad to take remedial steps.
"Pakistan has always maintained a policy of minimum credible deterrence based on national security imperatives," foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Basit told reporters at a press briefing, where he was asked about the reports.

"We are opposed to nuclear or conventional arms race in South Asia.

"At the same time, however, Pakistan cannot remain oblivious to increasing conventional asymmetry, unrelenting arms acquisition as well as preferential treatment being accorded to certain countries in the region," he said.

The spokesman was making a direct reference to nuclear-armed rival India.

"Such developments disturb the strategic balance. Pakistan is constrained to adopt necessary safeguards as it deems fit," he declared.

Basit urged the international community to play its role in augmenting the strategic stability in the region and "refrain from discriminatory policies which undermine the stability of South Asia and aggravates imbalances".

Since independence, India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, a divided Muslim majority state claimed by both.

A peace process has been on hold since deadly attacks in Mumbai last November which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militant group.

The spokesman called for a resumption of dialogue and resolution of the thorny Kashmir issue.

"The way forward lies in conflict resolutions and a peace process in this regard," Basit added.

Satellite photos released on Tuesday show Pakistan has expanded two sites crucial to its nuclear programme as part of an effort to bolster the destructive power of its atomic arsenal, a US arms control institute said.

They reveal a major expansion of a chemical plant complex that produces uranium hexafluoride and uranium metal, materials used to produce nuclear arms, said analysts at the Institute for Science and International Security.

At a site near Rawalpindi, photos suggest the Pakistanis "have added a second plutonium separation plant adjacent to the old one," the ISIS said.