Posted on 06/01/2009 1:10:38 AM PDT by nickcarraway
China is providing assistance to Pakistan in developing its plutonium-based nuclear weapons programme, a Congressional report has told US lawmakers.
Besides the conventional uranium-based nuclear weapons, said Pakistan has also pursued plutonium-based warheads since the 1990s and continues to produce plutonium for weapons, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in latest its report on the country's nuclear programme.
"Pakistan has received Chinese assistance for its plutonium programme," said the report by CRS, the research wing of the Congress that regularly prepares reports in issues of interest by the US lawmakers.
The 40-50 megawatt heavy water Khushab plutonium production reactor has been operating since 1998.
"It appears that Islamabad is constructing two additional heavy water reactors, which will expand considerably Pakistan's plutonium production capacity, at the same site," the report said.
"The continued expansion of the complex and production of weapons materials could indicate plans to increase its nuclear weapons arsenal in the near future," CRS said.
The committee had last week confirmed reports that Pakistan, with about 60 nuclear warheads primarily targeted towards India, was continuing production of fissile material for weapons and adding to its weapons production facilities and delivery vehicles.
A proxy to give India trouble.
Additional Link:
http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090529_2066.php
“Pakistan Developing Plutonium-Based Nukes, Group Says”
Friday, May 29, 2009
SNIPPET: “The Institute for Science and International Security concluded that Islamabad appeared to be increasing its capacity to separate plutonium from spent nuclear fuel rods, potentially enabling it to produce fissile material for more compact, higher-yield nuclear weapons (see GSN, May 20).
“In the last two weeks, Pakistan has sought to turn the public debate over its nuclear program into a binary choice between Pakistan expanding its program and Pakistan modernizing its program. The truth, however, is more complex,” says an ISIS statement released yesterday.
“Pakistan is likely supplementing or replacing its current uranium-based nuclear weapon arsenal with plutonium-based weapons which will be more destructive and deliverable” (Institute for Science and International Security release, May 28).”
Speaking of fissile material...
Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2261087/posts
Statement by the President on Beginning of Negotiations on Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty
WHITEHOUSE.GOV ^ | May 29, 2009 | n/a
Posted on May 30, 2009 12:56:24 AM PDT by Cindy
Note: The folllowing text is a quote:
THE BRIEFING ROOM
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release May 29, 2009
Statement by the President on Beginning of Negotiations on Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty
There is no greater security challenge in the world today than turning the tide on nuclear-proliferation, and pursuing the goal of a nuclear-free world. I welcome today’s important agreement at the Conference on Disarmament to begin negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, which will end production of fissile materials for use in atomic bombs. As I announced in Prague, a verified cut off treaty is an essential element of my vision for a world free of nuclear weapons. The treaty will help to cap nuclear arsenals, strengthen the consensus underlying the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and deny terrorists access to nuclear materials. Today’s decision ends more than a decade of inactivity in the Conference on Disarmament, and signals a commitment to work together on this fundamental global challenge. It is good to see the Conference at work again. I am committed to consult and cooperate with the governments represented at the Conference on Disarmament to complete this treaty as soon as possible.
This is nothing really new. There has been a relationship with China for decades.China sells Pakistan M-11 missiles.Pakistan is said to have had long-time trade relations with the regime in Pyongyang. Pakistan’s objectives were to acquire longer range ballistic missiles and nuclear technology going back to the Bhutto years. Both countries have consulates in Karachi.
The warheads on Pakistani nuclear weapons are of Chinese design.
Its time for the new government in India to act tough.
1) Recognize the sovereignty of Taiwan as Taiwan and not as the ROC
2) Sign a treaty of mutual defense with Taiwan, Mongolia and Japan
3) On the same trip, get off at Hanoi and share “pleasantries” with the administration there
Then we’ll see what the Chinese want.
Thanks for the ping.
BTTT
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