MAKING OUT HEADS OR TAILS

A report from the US Congressional Research Service says that Pakistan has 60 nuclear warheads in its arsenal. It continues with its programme of fissile material production for weapons. It is also adding to its weapon production facilities and delivery vehicles.

Pakistan 's nuclear warheads use an implosion nuclear design with a solid core of highly enriched uranium. The approximate quantity used is 15-20 kg per warhead. Pakistan is continuing to produce highly-enriched uranium for weapons at a rate of at least 100 kg per year. This is apart from constructing two additional heavy water reactors, which will expand considerably Pakistan 's plutonium production capacity. In other words, it is adding 5 to 6 nuclear weapons to its arsenal every year.

For the delivery of nuclear bombs, Pakistan has two types of delivery vehicles, that is aircraft and surface-to-surface missiles.   Pakistan has modified F-16 Aircrafts obtained from the USA .  It has already entered into contract with the USA , for additional 36 aircrafts, as well as the contract for the weapons for those aircrafts and mid-life upgrade on Pakistan 's F-16A/B model aircraft.

Though Pakistan does not have a stated nuclear policy, but the fact remains that it cannot afford to use Nuclear weapons against Afghanistan , China or Iran , its other neighbours. Its clear target is India , which its leaders, from time to time, have proclaimed from their roof tops.

USA 's policy about Pakistan , a failing or a failed State, which cannot control open internal insurgency and its own creation of Frankenstein, Taliban, has been ambivalent. In the last week of May, 2009 there have been two major terror attacks in Peshawar , Pakistan , which killed 30 and injured over 200. This is apart from bomb blast which killed 55 people and injured over 350 others near the office of Pakistan 's Inter-Services Intelligence in Lahore . The Taliban have claimed responsibility for Lahore attack, saying, it was to avenge the Pakistan Army's operations in Malakand and Swat. The March 3, 2009 attack in Lahore , Pakistan , against the Sri Lankan cricket team was a stark warning that the Jihadis in the Pakistan have an agenda to internationalise their cause, through bold and attention-grabbing attacks. Though no group claimed the Lahore attack, there is ample reason to suspect Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Pakistan 's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) created and nurtured it to pressurise India . There are almost daily killings in Karachi , Islamabad , which are too numerous to be counted.

Pakistan 's nuclear bomb was initially proclaimed as the “Islamic Bomb”. It is believed that it was financed by Islamic countries like Libya , Saudi Arabia and possibly Iran too. The quid pro quo was that Pakistan would give access to nuclear weapons technology to such countries.  The Muslim countries welcomed Pakistan 's nuclear weapons' advent as an “Islamic Bomb”. In this context, it is worth while to recall that Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani scientist who was responsible for Pakistani atomic bomb, confessed in 2004 to selling nuclear secrets to Iran , North Korea and Libya . He was immediately pardoned by Mushraff, because obviously whatever he did, was with the approval of Pakistani Government.

Despite what Americans may say, Pakistan 's nuclear weapons arsenal is totally under the control of Pakistan Army. A former Pakistani Foreign Minister once said: “Control over Pakistani nuclear capability has always remained with the military.” The fact remains that Army is a parallel and rather more effective centre of power in Pakistan , who can defy even the Prime Minister. Many Prime Ministers, including Sharif were dethroned by army (Mushraff), who defied him over the Kargil war. Even if there were a civilian Prime Minister, he would have no option, except to obey what the army tells him.

In February 2009, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari acknowledged that his government had underestimated the threat from Taliban, and the terrorist group was present in “huge amounts of land” in the country extending its reach beyond the tribal belt to larger cities like Peshawar . He added: “Taliban had been taken for granted for a long time. It's been happening over time and it has happened, out of denial. Everybody was in denial. Many thought they were weak and they would not be able to take over or challenge the government.  As a result, the forces to challenge them were not increased. But we have weaknesses and they are taking advantage of that weakness.” However, most Pakistani citizens believe that the fight against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda is America 's war and their government was fighting by proxy.

How Pakistan deals with its internal situation is its outlook. But whatever happens inside Pakistan can have an impact in India . Pakistani army was always pro-terrorists, especially if they were to create trouble in India . The US Army has admitted in February 2009, about its training Pakistani Army and paramilitary troops, as well as providing them with intelligence and advising on combat tactics.

America is adopting a dual policy so far as India is concerned. It is aiding Pakistan with military equipment, as well as providing an aid of 1.5 billion dollars a year, fully aware that most of it will end in anti-Indian activities. But we cannot have any grouse against America , as to how it manages its affairs with other countries, Americans are not against us. They are merely for themselves. In human history, every individual and every nation looks after itself first.

We must not only be militarily strong, but also strengthen our intelligence system. We must not underestimate atomic Pakistan 's potential. We cannot trust its affirmation of every thing being honky dory. It  is a fact that Pakistan 's nuclear arsenal is vulnerable to hi-jacking by Al-Qaedist and Islamic Jehadi  terrorists, as well as elements within the Pakistan Army. Pakistan 's nuclear weapons also called as ”Islamic Bombs” are only India-specific in terms of nuclear targeting. We need to have the best intelligence and surveillance system, to ward off any attack as well as to pre-empt it. No price is too big to pay for safeguarding our independence. We also need to keep a watch and keep under leash, a miniscule number  home grown sympathisers and agents of Pakistan , masquerading as Indian citizens.

Andrew Jackson once said: “Every good citizen makes his country's honour his own, and cherishes it not only as precious but as sacred. He is willing to risk his life in its defence and is conscious that he gains protection while he gives it.”