Islamabad: Even in times of economic crisis, Pakistan has increased its stockpile of nuclear weapons. America’s nuclear scientists have released a report stating that Pakistan currently has 170 nuclear weapons. Which may cross 200 by 2025. The report has been named 2023 Pakistan Nuclear Handbook.
America’s Defense Intelligence had estimated in 1999 that Pakistan would have 60 to 80 nuclear weapons by 2020. However, Pakistan has made more nuclear weapons than this. The American agency has collected data related to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons from many intelligence documents, media and think tank reports.
The report said that information about the location of Pakistan’s nuclear capable missile bases and facilities could not be obtained. However, satellite images have revealed that Pakistan has 5 missile bases. From where its nuclear forces can operate. It has been told in the report that Pakistan is continuously modifying the cruise missiles launched from land and sea. India is developing its ballistic missile defense system. To deal with this, Pakistan had announced in 2017 that it has made a medium range ballistic missile in which multiple war heads can be installed. The name of this missile was said to be Ababil. According to the report, there is no information about the status of this missile yet.
Missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons and their mobile launchers are being developed at the National Defense Complex located in the Kala Chitta Dahar mountain range west of Islamabad. Two parts of this complex are visible in satellite images. Missiles and rocket engines are developed, produced and tested in the western part. It has been told in the report that the work of building facilities for making material and uranium plants required for making nuclear weapons in Kahuta and Gadwal areas of Pakistan is nearing completion. Pakistan is also building four heavy water plutonium production reactors. The newest of these plutonium reactors is at a distance of 33 kilometers in Punjab Province of Pakistan. Mirage-3, Mirage-5 are those aircraft in which Pakistan can install nuclear weapons. These fight bombers are deployed at two airbases. One of them is Masroor Airbase, while the other is Rafiki Airbase.
