US Concerned About Pakistan Nuclear Weapon

WASHINGTON: Concern is growing in Washington over the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal amid widening influence of the Taliban and al-Qaida, citing US officials media reports said.

Senior U.S. officials say they are becoming more concerned about the possibility militants might hijack a weapon or infiltrate laboratories or nuclear fuel-producing installations, The New York Times reported. The officials said there is no reason to suspect an imminent threat against the arsenal, the newspaper said.

President Barack Obama said last week he has confidence the security of the nuclear infrastructure is a top priority of Pakistani military officials. However, U.S. officials do not know the location of all of Pakistan’s nuclear sites, and are less comfortable than they had been with Pakistani assurances the nuclear arsenal is safe — while Pakistani officials have declined to provide more information on such details about the nuclear arsenal as locations and security plans, the newspaper said.

The issue could come up this week when Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari meets in Washington with Obama, the report said.

Tags: Pakistan Nuclear Weapon, US