Click to play videoNew Delhi: The news that many veteran Indian scientists think Pokhran II nuclear blasts were a dud come amidst growing concern over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.
There have been credible reports that Pakistan is enhancing its nuclear capability. Top American scientists say that Islamabad has increased its nuclear weapons stock pile and that Pakistan is keeping them ready for use.
India is concerned whether Pakistan is going back on the 'no-first use' doctrine where nuclear arsenal is concerned. American atomic scientists say Islamabad is moving to mate nuclear warheads with the Shaheen II medium-range missile.
Reports suggest that this is probably going on at the Masroor Air Base near Karachi. It appears as if Pakistan wants to ensure the weapon is ready to use at any given point.
Pakistani missile and strategic bases have one principal target and that is India. The Shaheen II, with its 2,000 km range can hit targets in southern and eastern India with ease. The Ghauri missile in Pakistan's arsenal has a range of 1500 km and can hit central India. The Hatf-III of 800 km range can hit Gujarat, Rajasthan and UP.
What is more alarming is that the American scientists say Pakistan has increased the number of nuclear warheads from 60 to around 90 and is stepping up the pace on new nuclear weapons and projects.
The US scientists say Pakistan is developing two new cruise missiles; the ground launched Babur and the air launched Ra'ad.
The missiles will carry nuclear warheads miniaturised to fit onto the missiles.
Read this with US accusations that Pakistan has been modifying the US sponsored Harpoon missile, given to Pakistan to fight Taliban terror outfits inside Pakistan. The Harpoon in its modified form can hit land targets. The signals from Islamabad are clear. Pakistan's threat to use nuclear weapons now carries a deadly new edge.
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