06-19-2008, 05:47 AM
Pakistan's nuclear capabilities present at least four challenges to American policy:
There is a small but real possibility of the next India-Pakistan crisis escalating to nuclear levels.
Pakistan may decide, as a matter of state policy, to extend a nuclear umbrella (or engage in nuclear sharing) with one or more Middle East (West Asian) states, especially if Iran acquires a nuclear device.
There is a hard-to-quantify risk of nuclear theft. Pakistan has a home-grown personnel reliability programme, but even this could be circumvented in a determined conspiracy.
There is some small chance that should Pakistan unravel, that its nuclear assets will be seized by remnant elements of the Army for political, strategic, or personal purposes.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?m...t&counter_img=2
There is a small but real possibility of the next India-Pakistan crisis escalating to nuclear levels.
Pakistan may decide, as a matter of state policy, to extend a nuclear umbrella (or engage in nuclear sharing) with one or more Middle East (West Asian) states, especially if Iran acquires a nuclear device.
There is a hard-to-quantify risk of nuclear theft. Pakistan has a home-grown personnel reliability programme, but even this could be circumvented in a determined conspiracy.
There is some small chance that should Pakistan unravel, that its nuclear assets will be seized by remnant elements of the Army for political, strategic, or personal purposes.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?m...t&counter_img=2