Washington: Pakistan which has about 60 nuclear warheads, primarily targeted towards India, is continuing production of fissile material for weapons and adding to its production facilities and delivery vehicles, a US Congressional report has said.
The latest report by Congressional Research Service (CRS) - a research wing of the US Congress which prepares reports for lawmakers - comes a validation to recent statements and media reports that Pakistan was expanding its nuclear arsenal.
“Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal consists of approximately 60 nuclear warheads. It continues fissile material production for weapons and is adding to its weapons production facilities and delivery vehicles,” said the report “Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security issues”, which was released to the media on Thursday.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a Congressional hearing on 14 May had said that the US has “evidence” that Pakistan is expanding its nuclear arsenal. A similar report was also published in ‘The New York Times´ early this month.
Pakistan stores its warheads unassembled with the fissile core separate from non-nuclear explosives, and these are stored separately from their delivery vehicles, it said.