Pakistani nuclear weapons

Aljazeera reports that Taliban fighters overtook a naval base in Karachi, Pakistan yesterday. Although the Pakistani forces recaptured the base after seventeen hours, this incident draws attention to the potential vulnerability of that countries nuclear weapons. Even if the weapons are secure, the U.S. State Department just last year expressed concerns for the safety of nuclear material in Pakistani laboratories. Most sources suggest that Pakistan now possesses between ninety and 110 active nuclear warheads. With a large portion of the population expressing militant views and with militant groups controlling portions of the country, the long-term security of these weapons is in doubt. This fear is enhanced by the fact that one of the founders of the nation’s nuclear program, A. W. Khan in 2004 admitted to selling nuclear technology on the black market to North Korea, Libya, and Iran.