Security of Pakistani Nuclear Assets - Interview of Director, SPD Pakistani NCA

[Argus Panoptes]

Link to source of the copied text:

Michael Krepon • Pakistan’s Rickover

 

[zilahumafazal]

During times of relative political and social normalcy, the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is probably adequate and could be expected to improve consistent with other nuclear programs worldwide. However, fallout from Pakistan's decision to cooperate with the United States following the September 11th terrorist attacks may severely test Pakistan's security system throughout its nuclear weapons complex. Instability in Pakistan could make its nuclear weapons and stocks of nuclear explosive material dangerously vulnerable to theft. If domestic instability leads to the downfall of the current Pakistani government, nuclear weapons and the means to make them could fall into the hands of a government hostile to the United States and its allies.

 

[Jf Thunder]

Alhamdulillah, our Nuclear assets are protected up till now and i believe Allah will continue to protect our "Islamic Bomb" the America just doesn't want anyone besides itself to have bombs, specially Muslims, they have tried everything to get their hands on it, sanctions, threats, bribes etc, no matter how much our government is useless but we are very possessive of our Nuclear arsenal and InShahAllah , Allah will continue to protect it, so no worries

 

[MastanKhan]

Alhamdulillah, our Nuclear assets are protected up till now and i believe Allah will continue to protect our "Islamic Bomb" the America just doesn't want anyone besides itself to have bombs, specially Muslims, they have tried everything to get their hands on it, sanctions, threats, bribes etc, no matter how much our government is useless but we are very possessive of our Nuclear arsenal and InShahAllah , Allah will continue to protect it, so no worries

Kids kids kids,

It is with the blessings of the U S that the paks have the nucs. Don't believe in the lies that your parents have been telling you.

 

[Jf Thunder]

Kids kids kids,

It is with the blessings of the U S that the paks have the nucs. Don't believe in the lies that your parents have been telling you.

LOL, most funniest joke i have heard for the whole century not that i am that old lol, seeing how baseless your claim is i am going to pretend i didn't see it because i have no argument against people who give such baseless arguments.
IT IS NOT WITH THE BLESSINGS OF THE AMERICANS
IT IS BY THE BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH THAT WE HAVE NUKES AND THAT THEY ARE STILL PROTECTED ALHADULILLAH

 

[chauvunist]

Kids kids kids,

It is with the blessings of the U S that the paks have the nucs. Don't believe in the lies that your parents have been telling you.

You are a confused old man who is uncertain about actual nationality,By birth Pakistani but heart beating for U.S....So please spare us from your usual pessimistic pro-U.S blah blah...

 

[Alphacharlie]

Kids kids kids,

It is with the blessings of the U S that the paks have the nucs. Don't believe in the lies that your parents have been telling you.

I always admire your Views Sir. You Speak Reality without any Pinch of Nationalistic Jingoism.

 

[Alpha1]

I am curious how strategic nuclear froces defend their nuclear command and control and communications (NC3) from Cyber Terrorism
Read this In an old article.. little Out dated
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Pakistan has approximately 30 to 50 nuclear weapons, with its prime intent at
deterring aggression from India. These can be delivered by F-16s and short and long
range ballistic missiles. Pakistan has rejected the doctrine of no-first-use. This would
suggest Pakistan may at times store nuclear weapons mated with missiles and ready
for launch. The US has provided assistance and aid to improve safeguarding of
Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. This included helicopters, night vision goggles, and
nuclear detection equipment, as well as electronic sensors, closed circuit TV cameras,
fencing, and electronic sensors at nuclear facilities. Since 2004, Pakistan has
employed the US PAL system for securing its nuclear arsenal. (Berry 2008)
Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is overseen by the National Command Authority (NCA)
headed by the President and with the Prime Minister as its vice chairman. Key cabinet
ministers and the heads of the army, navy and air force are also members of the NCA,
which controls all aspects of the country's nuclear program, including deployment
and, if ever necessary, the use of the weapons. However, the military manages and
controls the nuclear weapons on behalf of the NCA. While all decision-making on
nuclear issues rests with the NCA, an affiliated body, the Strategic Plans Division,
manages and controls the nuclear weapons on behalf of the NCA. Transfers of power,
multiple acts of terrorism, coups, increased Islamic fundamentalist unrest,
assassination attempts on Prime Ministers and the assassination of Benazir Bhutto
raise concerns over the security of nuclear weapons in such a volatile environment.
Pakistan’s nuclear command and control may also be lacking in advanced early
warning/threat assessment, secure communications channels, and rigorous screening
of nuclear personnel (Jones 2000). Despite the uneasy relationship between Pakistan
and India, there are a number of communication channels that have been established,
including hotlines between army commanders and prime ministers, and agreements to
provide prior notification of troop movements and ballistic missile tests
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

 

[MastanKhan]

LOL, most funniest joke i have heard for the whole century not that i am that old lol, seeing how baseless your claim is i am going to pretend i didn't see it because i have no argument against people who give such baseless arguments.
IT IS NOT WITH THE BLESSINGS OF THE AMERICANS
IT IS BY THE BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY ALLAH THAT WE HAVE NUKES AND THAT THEY ARE STILL PROTECTED ALHADULILLAH

Hi,

If you take a moment a look out of the shell that you have been living in---you will find out that there is no ALLAH in pakistan---. God almighty has left this nation many a years ago.

ALLAH does not BLESS with WEAPONS OF MASS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF HUMANITY---.

KID---THEY ARE THE BLESSINGS OF THE 'SATAN' if you get my drift----hehn----.

I know of first few of the pakistani nuc scientists involved in the nuc program. My uncle was a one time Principal at reactor school Nylore in the late 70,s--. All pak scientists were educated in europe or U S.

In the 80's even when u S put sanctions on the iranian students that they won't be taught in nuc physics---schools were open to paks.

Your reaction is okay---when brain washed beliefs are shattered----that is how people respond.

You are a confused old man who is uncertain about actual nationality,By birth Pakistani but heart beating for U.S....So please spare us from your usual pessimistic pro-U.S blah blah...

Hi,

I am a pakistani at heart and in soul---. Just because you cannot comprehend and understand---that is not my problem.

I can only share---I am not here to convince anyone ( atypical pakistani mentality of a lots of pak brethren----"convince us" ).

In my older age---I have many a screw ups---such is life---but not in this case.

 

[Jf Thunder]

Hi,

If you take a moment a look out of the shell that you have been living in---you will find out that there is no ALLAH in pakistan---. God almighty has left this nation many a years ago.

ALLAH does not BLESS with WEAPONS OF MASS DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF HUMANITY---.

KID---THEY ARE THE BLESSINGS OF THE 'SATAN' if you get my drift----hehn----.

I know of first few of the pakistani nuc scientists involved in the nuc program. My uncle was a one time Principal at reactor school Nylore in the late 70,s--. All pak scientists were educated in europe or U S.

In the 80's even when u S put sanctions on the iranian students that they won't be taught in nuc physics---schools were open to paks.

Your reaction is okay---when brain washed beliefs are shattered----that is how people respond.




Hi,

I am a pakistani at heart and in soul---. Just because you cannot comprehend and understand---that is not my problem.

I can only share---I am not here to convince anyone ( atypical pakistani mentality of a lots of pak brethren----"convince us" ).

In my older age---I have many a screw ups---such is life---but not in this case.

ok, i see that it is useless arguing, as i h ave seen how you react to the name of Allah, bye bye

 

[fatman17]

Pakistan

The National Command Authority (NCA) supervises the functions and administration of all of
Pakistan’s organizations involved in nuclear weapons research, development, and employment, as
well as the military services that operate the strategic forces.27

The Prime Minister is Chairperson of the NCA.28 Other members of the NCA include senior military and civilian officials.29

The NCA, as Pakistan’s main decision-making body for nuclear weapons issues, is made up of two
committees. One, the Development Control Committee (DCC), includes several military officials;
its Deputy Chairperson is also the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The DCC “exercises
technical, financial and administrative control over all strategic organisations, including national
laboratories and research and development organisations associated with the development and
modernisation of nuclear weapons.”30

The second is the Employment Control Committee.

AStrategic Plans Division (SPD) acts as the secretariat for the NCA.31

The SPD is tasked with the daily management of Pakistan’s strategic assets and has oversight over the “Strategic Organizations,” which include Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Dr. A.Q. Khan Research Laboratories; it oversees “the systematic progress of weapon systems.”32

(Written by Paul Kerr,Analyst in Nonproliferation.)

 

[Zarvan]

Pakistan's Nuclear Controls​

• 10 member National Command Authority in charge of all Nuclear Facilities
  
  
• The president will be the authority’s chairman and the prime minister its vice-chairman. The authority will include ministers of foreign affairs, defence, interior, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, chiefs of army, navy and air force, and director-general of the Strategic Plans Division. The director-general of the Strategic Plans Division will be the authority’s secretary.
  
  
• Standard "Two Man Rule" to authenticate access to nuclear release codes.
  
  
• Nuclear Warheads "De-mated" from missiles or bomb casings, and components are to be put into operation only with the consent of a National Command Authority.
  
  
• Pakistan has developed its own version of "Permissive Action Links," or PALs, a sophisticated type of lock the U.S. uses to prevent unauthorized launching.
  
  
• A comprehensive, intrusive Personnel Reliability System (along the lines of one in the US) that monitors employees, before, during and after employment.
  
  
• A ten thousand member Security Force, led by a two star General, dedicated to guarding the Nuclear facilities.
  
  
• Possible "phony bunkers and dummy warheads" to deter raids, by internal and external threats.
  
  
• Possibly between 100 to 200 nuclear warheads (Number of Missile Delivery Systems unknown)

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Pakistan’s nukes are safe, study by US fellow
By Mariana Baabar

ISLAMABAD: The implications of unrest in Pakistan for nuclear security in theory means that its nuclear weapons could be vulnerable to theft, illicit transfer or unintentional use if the army's discipline and command control structure faltered.

This assessment has been made by Alex Stolar who is a Herbert Scoville Jr Peace Fellow with the Stimson Center's South Asia Programme.

In his paper Stolar says that the bad news is that Pakistan's domestic unrest will continue and grow worse without the restoration of a representative government, and that extremists have many ways to further destabilize Pakistan.

Are Pakistan's bombs safe? In theory, Pakistan's nuclear weapons could be vulnerable to theft, illicit transfer, or unintentional use if the army's discipline and command and control structure faltered.

Concerns about the security of Pakistan's weapons are greatest in the West when Pakistani politics enters a rough patch and during leadership changes.

Unfortunately, unfounded fears about Pakistan's nuclear weapons have obscured more pressing threats. Radiological terrorism in Pakistan, as elsewhere, is possible. To conduct an act of radiological terrorism, extremists would need to fashion a radiological dispersal device (RDD) that consists of little more than conventional explosives and radiological materials that can be found in laboratories and hospitals. Though an RDD would cause few deaths, it could contaminate a large swath of land and stretch Pakistan's emergency response capabilities. Fortunately, these worst-case scenarios are highly unlikely. Pakistan has been through worse passages of political unrest. Intimidation, politically driven violence, and sectarian strife are all too common in Pakistani politics. If past experience is any guide, the current unrest will not lead to anarchy or chaos in Pakistan. The vast majority of Pakistanis desire a moderate and stable state, and the army has an institutional interest to prevent the breakdown of national authority and cohesion. Pakistan's weapons were secure during previous periods of political instability, and they are likely to remain the most protected national assets during the current unrest. There are no signs of a breakdown in command and control in the Pakistan Army.

After the security leakages associated with A Q Khan, Pakistan's military leadership took important steps to establish improved safety and security practices. Pakistan's military authorities and civilian leaders also established a robust nuclear command and control structure after testing weapons in 1998. Today, the military's Strategic Plans Division devotes over 8,000 men, mostly undercover, to protecting Pakistan's weapons and fissile material. The Pakistani military is a highly capable and professional force. It is highly improbable that it would hand over its crown jewels to individuals or organizations that it cannot control during this period of unrest.

It is equally unlikely that terrorist would be able to steal Pakistani nuclear weapons or fissile material. It is true that the fiat of the Pakistani state is being challenged throughout Pakistan, and especially in the tribal regions bordering Afghanistan. In the most troubled regions, police and military forces are struggling to maintain order. However, the installations that house Pakistan's nuclear weapons and fissile material, as would be expected, are heavily guarded and among the most secure facilities in all of Pakistan.

Similarly, fears that the current unrest could lead to a takeover of the Pakistani government by extremists are also misplaced. Religious parties are an important element of Pakistani society, but their political clout remains limited. It is unlikely that religious parties could engineer a takeover of the Pakistani government, as they lack both the popular support and the military power that would be required. The political power of religious parties would be further diminished if General Pervez Musharraf would remove the shackles from the two major political parties in Pakistan that do not define themselves in religious terms.

Extremists, however, need not resort to RDDs to wreak havoc and instill fear. As recent bombings have illustrated, detonating conventional explosives in a crowded area suffices to cause extraordinary suffering.

With each bombing, President Musharraf's vision of an enlightened and moderate Pakistan seems more illusive. The unraveling of Musharraf's vision of enlightened moderation was not unpredictable. For far too long, Musharraf has avoided making hard choices on the most pressing problems which confront Pakistan-on madrasa reform, militancy in Kashmir, the resurgence of the Taliban, and democracy.

Musharraf is now entering a critical period, and he faces very difficult choices about his future and the future of Pakistan. While most alarmist predictions about the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons are unlikely to materialize, instability is likely to increase unless Musharraf redirects the Pakistani ship of state.

The News International: Latest News Breaking, Pakistan News

I have only one question why the hell he was even allowed to give interview ???????????

 

[Umair Nawaz]

I always admire your Views Sir. You Speak Reality without any Pinch of Nationalistic Jingoism.

something yr kind lacks.

 

[Alphacharlie]

something yr kind lacks.

Remember - To Agree or Disagree is My Fundamental Right.
Which your Kind Doesnt have.

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Remember - To Agree or Disagree is My Fundamental Right.
Which your Kind Doesnt have.

accepting facts like Mastan Khan is something yr kind lacks.