Fourth nuclear reactor has India worried: report

This still image from a Pakistan military handout video shows a Hatf IX (NASR) missile being fired during a test at an undisclosed location in Pakistan April 19, 2011. - Photo by Reuters

NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s nuclear programme that focuses on “low-yield, tactical nuclear weapons” that could possibly be used at the border has India worried, The Times of India reported on Thursday.
Citing Indian security and intelligence officials, Pakistan’s fourth reactor at the Khushab military facility suggests that the country has the capability to add at least eight to 10 such weapons each year.
“They are following the Chinese model of having low-yield nuclear weapons. Pakistan believes these weapons will provide it a flexible response in case of an escalation with India and allow it to dominate,” S D Pradhan, former chief of joint intelligence committee, told the newspaper.
Pradahan, who has closely followed Pakistan’s nuclear programme, further stated that “Pakistan’s desire for such weapons is one of the main reasons for the acceleration of its nuclear programme.”
And according to The Times, the figure of eight to 10 weapons is expected to go up once the new reactor becomes operational in two years.
Satellite images revealed by Newsweek indicate an aggressive build-up at the plutonium producing facility.
According to The Times of India, Pakistan is known to have a nuclear arsenal but the current focus on low-yield (tacital) weapons has India worried. Indian officials and experts believe, according to the newspaper, that these weapons will be used by Pakistan “in case of an incursion made by Indian forces into Pakistani territory”. In case of a repeat of the Mumai-terror attacks, there will be pressure on the Indian government “to mount such an incursion and strike some of the terror camps.”