They have their work cut out for them. Especially, when these bases are defended by F-16s we sold to the Pakistanis and SAMs
Posted on 10/12/2009 8:15:44 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
An audacious weekend assault by Islamic militants on Pakistan's army headquarters is again raising fears of an insurgent attack on the country's nuclear weapons installation. Pakistan has sought to protect its nuclear weapons from attack by the Taliban or other militants by storing the warheads, detonators and missiles separately in facilities patrolled by elite troops.
Analysts are divided on how secure these weapons are. Some say the weapons are less secure than they were five years ago, and Saturday's attack would show a "worrisome" overconfidence by the Pakistanis.
While complex security is in place, much depends on the Pakistani army and how vulnerable it is to infiltration by extremists, said a Western government official with access to intelligence on Pakistan and its nuclear arsenal, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.
Analysts say a more realistic scenario would involve militant sympathizers getting work as scientists at the facilities and passing information to extremists.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Pakistan turned down the offer of Permissive Action Link (PAL) technology, a sophisticated “weapon release” program which initiates use via specific checks and balances, possibly because it feared the secret implanting of “dead switches”
They will not need to make a “dirty bomb”. All they need is the missile commanders and the government to give them the codes.
I do not get a warm fuzzy from stories such as this.
Neither do I, but it might be a reality soon.
Yep.
(Note to self: review contents of bug-out-bag and update as necessary.)
The final Plan B option is for the Indian Air Force and Marine Commandos to seize control of the Pakistani nuke facilities in the event they are in danger of falling into the hands of the Taliban.
PAKISTAN-ORDER OF BATTLE
30 x 20-50 kT weapons
40 x F-16 fighter-bombers
140 x Mirage III/V - 685km
140 x Nanchang A-5 attack aircraft
50 x M-11 missiles - payload of 500kg & 300km range.
6-12 x Ghauri IRBM
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