*ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is on way to become the World’s fifth largest nuclearweapon state with over 250 nuclear warheads.*
*Pakistan could grow from an estimated 140–150 to between 220 and 250warheads within the next seven years if the South Asian country continuesexpanding its nuclear weapon programme and delivery capabilities, accordingto a report published on August 31 by the Bulletin of the AtomicScientists.*
Authored by members of the Federation of American Scientists, the 12-pagelong report points out that the country is expanding its uranium-enrichmentand plutonium production facilities, as well as developing several deliverysystems, says Jane’s Defence Weekly.
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“Pakistan continues to expand its nuclear arsenal with more warheads, moredelivery systems, and a growing fissile materials production industry … Weestimate that the country’s stockpile could … grow to 220 to 250 warheadsby 2025, if the current trend continues,” states the report, pointing outthat this would make Pakistan the world’s fifth-largest “nuclear weaponstate”.
