KARACHI, Pakistan, Feb. 22 — In what appeared to be the first indication that Pakistan was ready to deploy nuclear weapons, its navy said Thursday that it may put nuclear missiles on its submarines.
SUCH A MOVE would aggravate tension with nuclear neighbor India, which also announced its intention to deploy nuclear armed submarines.
“We are also fully prepared for the deployment of nuclear missiles by them. We are equal to it,” India’s defense ministry spokesman P.K. Bandopadhyay told The Associated Press in New Delhi.
Both countries exploded nuclear devices in 1998 and declared themselves nuclear powers.
“Pakistan may equip its submarines with nuclear missiles to defend its key naval installations,” said navy spokesman Roshan Khayal.
It’s not known how many or which nuclear weapons Pakistan possesses. But Pakistan recently added three French submarines to its fleet — all capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Khayal said.
Most analysts do not believe either country has yet deployed nuclear weapons or developed nuclear warheads for their missile systems. Both have, however, tested medium- and long-range missiles capable of hitting deep within each other’s territory.
FUEL FOR REGIONAL NUCLEAR ARMS RACE
“There is already a nuclear arms race in the region and this will only further fuel that race,” said analyst Ayesha Siddiqa.
Pakistan did not offer a time frame for putting nuclear missiles on submarines.
On Wednesday, Rear Admiral Afzal Tahir, deputy chief of naval staff, said India has ambitions to nuclearize its submarine fleet, and that Pakistan has to keep pace.
“Nuclear weapons have fundamentally changed the dynamics of the military equation in the region and Pakistan has to prepare itself to meet any aggression,” Tahir said.
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SUCH A MOVE would aggravate tension with nuclear neighbor India, which also announced its intention to deploy nuclear armed submarines.
“We are also fully prepared for the deployment of nuclear missiles by them. We are equal to it,” India’s defense ministry spokesman P.K. Bandopadhyay told The Associated Press in New Delhi.
Both countries exploded nuclear devices in 1998 and declared themselves nuclear powers.
“Pakistan may equip its submarines with nuclear missiles to defend its key naval installations,” said navy spokesman Roshan Khayal.
It’s not known how many or which nuclear weapons Pakistan possesses. But Pakistan recently added three French submarines to its fleet — all capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Khayal said.
Most analysts do not believe either country has yet deployed nuclear weapons or developed nuclear warheads for their missile systems. Both have, however, tested medium- and long-range missiles capable of hitting deep within each other’s territory.
FUEL FOR REGIONAL NUCLEAR ARMS RACE
“There is already a nuclear arms race in the region and this will only further fuel that race,” said analyst Ayesha Siddiqa.
Pakistan did not offer a time frame for putting nuclear missiles on submarines.
On Wednesday, Rear Admiral Afzal Tahir, deputy chief of naval staff, said India has ambitions to nuclearize its submarine fleet, and that Pakistan has to keep pace.
“Nuclear weapons have fundamentally changed the dynamics of the military equation in the region and Pakistan has to prepare itself to meet any aggression,” Tahir said.
Want to learn more?
http://www.msnbc.com/news/381174.asp
------------------
"I'd like an order of fries, a quarter pounder with cheese, I love the light in your eyes, would you go out with me please? I am in love with a McDonald's Girl, she has a smile of innocence so tender and warm, she is an angel in a polyester uniform."
