Pakistan possesses up to 110 nuclear weapons, report says

[rama]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan possessed up to 110 nuclear weapons and spent a whopping $2.2 billion on its atomic arsenal last year, claims a report by an international NGO, prompting Islamabad to call it "highly exaggerated".

In the report titled "Don't bank on the bomb", the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) said that Pakistan had between 90 and 110 nuclear weapons. "Its arsenal has grown substantially in recent years, from 60 to 80 nuclear weapons in 2008," it said.

The report, issued this week, quoted sources as saying that Pakistan intended to double its arsenal in the next five to 10 years with the goal of having up to 350 weapons of varying yield. It further said Pakistan spent an estimated $2.2 billion on its nuclear weapons programme last year, up from $1.8 billion in 2010.

"Expenditure is projected to increase substantially due to maintenance costs for its new plutonium infrastructure," the report said. Reacting to the report, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said it was "highly exaggerated and part of an insidious propaganda campaign." "Pakistan's strategic programme was modest (and) aimed at maintaining a credible minimum deterrence to ensure national security," Basit said.

He said Pakistan's primary focus was on economic development and the welfare of its people.

"Pakistan was opposed to an arms race in South Asian or in any other part of the world," he said.
Pakistan possesses up to 110 nuclear weapons, report says - The Times of India

 

[OrionHunter]

He said Pakistan's primary focus was on economic development and the welfare of its people.

Oh really? But then....

The report, issued this week, quoted sources as saying that Pakistan intended to double its arsenal in the next five to 10 years with the goal of having up to 350 weapons of varying yield. It further said Pakistan spent an estimated $2.2 billion on its nuclear weapons programme last year, up from $1.8 billion in 2010.

So, spending those billions on nukes would result in economic development and welfare of the people?

 

[Rafi]

The weapon estimate is not accurate, and the spending is highly exaggerated - our deterrence capability is increasing exponentially

 

[Che Guevara]

So, spending those billions on nukes would result in economic development and welfare of the people?

what we have to do???Let them spend...good for us

 

[Invincible INDIAN]

Would like to see them having 1000+ nukes. If there are 100 or 1000 does not matter at all.

 

[ares]

^^Ohh how you contradict yourself!!

Spending is exaggerated..but capability has increased exponentially..is it discount season on nuclear weapons mart that one can produce large numbers without spending big money on them??
Weapons estimate is not accurate ..I am guessing it is higher??.."just love the act..feeding straight lines...pretending you know some thing others don't.

 

[Imran Khan]

it will reach 350 or 400 then stopped dear nuclear state with 10-20 nukes is a joke they are doing well just spent billions one time and then stay easy like before . good step indeed .

 

[Rafi]

^^Ohh how you contradict yourself!!

Spending is exaggerated..but capability has increased exponentially..is it discount season on nuclear weapons mart that one can produce large numbers without spending big money on them??
Weapons estimate is not accurate ..I am guessing it is higher??.."just love the act..feeding straight lines...pretending you know some thing others don't.

The reason being - the program is infrastructure expensive - but our program has building it for close to 3 decades, so the current expenditure is not that much, we have been a nuclear power since the early eighties, so work it out yourself.

 

[JanjaWeed]

isn't this old news? looks like TOI is running short of news sources.. instead recycle the same old & add bit more spice to that!!

 

[Patriot]

I hope it's true.I am so happy.I think 150 would be a good number to maintain good strategic deterrent.

 

[DANGER-ZONE]

Looks like TOI is running out of news, same old news again.
and the number would have been increased by now DEAR TOI.

 

[ares]

The reason being - the program is infrastructure expensive - but our program has building it for close to 3 decades, so the current expenditure is not that much, we have been a nuclear power since the early eighties, so work it out yourself.

So bottom line is you are basically guessing that spending is exaggerated and it is not $2.2 Billion (as you can not possibly know the real amount spent unless you are high functionary in Pakistani govt) ..but then how would you know that expenses are being exaggerated but weapon numbers are not?

 

[SHAMK9]

*facepalm* shud hav invested in education instead

 

[samrat]

This is an area where India should never compete with Pakistan. Pakistan should win this race at any cost.

 

[Bilal587]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan possessed up to 110 nuclear weapons and spent a whopping $2.2 billion on its atomic arsenal last year, claims a report by an international NGO, prompting Islamabad to call it "highly exaggerated".

In the report titled "Don't bank on the bomb", the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) said that Pakistan had between 90 and 110 nuclear weapons. "Its arsenal has grown substantially in recent years, from 60 to 80 nuclear weapons in 2008," it said.

The report, issued this week, quoted sources as saying that Pakistan intended to double its arsenal in the next five to 10 years with the goal of having up to 350 weapons of varying yield. It further said Pakistan spent an estimated $2.2 billion on its nuclear weapons programme last year, up from $1.8 billion in 2010.

"Expenditure is projected to increase substantially due to maintenance costs for its new plutonium infrastructure," the report said. Reacting to the report, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said it was "highly exaggerated and part of an insidious propaganda campaign." "Pakistan's strategic programme was modest (and) aimed at maintaining a credible minimum deterrence to ensure national security," Basit said.

He said Pakistan's primary focus was on economic development and the welfare of its people.

"Pakistan was opposed to an arms race in South Asian or in any other part of the world," he said.
Pakistan possesses up to 110 nuclear weapons, report says - The Times of India

look at the source btw this remind me of this video which is very funny from indian media