Pentagon Readies Plans for Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal

The Pentagon is working on a series of contingency plans to prevent Pakistan's nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of Islamist radicals and insisted today that the arsenal was safe in spite of the upheaval in the aftermath of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

"Our assessment is that the Pakistani nuclear arsenal is under control," said Pentagon spokesman Colonel Gary Keck. "At this time, we have no need for concern."

But he was speaking about the present position. The Bush administration is less confident about the future.

The US administration has spent $100 million (£50 million) over the last six years on improving the security of Pakistan's nuclear program.

One of the contingency plans would involve US special forces, working in conjunction with Pakistan's military and intelligence services, to spirit away any weapons at imminent risk.

But the US cannot be confident that the Pakistan military would co-operate at such a time.

In spite of US aid to help with security, the Pakistan government has remained suspicious of US intentions, fearing that it might plant devices capable of neutralizing the weapons.

As a result, Pakistan has withheld information about the location of all its arsenal and other specifics. Pakistan's nuclear scientists and technicians go to the US for training.

Pakistan, which carried out its first nuclear test in 1998, claims to have about 80 to 120 warheads. It has many decoys to confuse would-be thieves.

Pakistan's nuclear weapons are stored in bunkers in about half-a-dozen military bases and, to provide a degree of safety, the components are kept separately.

Much of the highly-enriched uranium needed for a nuclear weapon is produced at the special weapons facility at Kahuta. The warheads could be delivered either by missile or aircraft.