Global Security Newswire

An Indian official yesterday expressed concern that neighboring rival Pakistan would be unable to maintain control of its nuclear weapons and other sensitive materials as the nation's security continues "deteriorating," the Times of India reported (see GSN, Oct. 28).

"The internal security situation in Pakistan seems to be deteriorating every day. We really don't know for how long and how far its establishment would be able to adequately safeguard its strategic assets," said Indian Junior Defense Minister Pallam Raju.

When questioned on the likelihood of Taliban militants acquiring enriched uranium or a nuclear weapon inside Pakistan, he replied: "I hope they (Pakistan) are taking adequate measures and we hope that such an incident will not happen."

Pakistan today is locked in conflict with extremists within its borders. Militants have launched several attacks in recent years on military sites believed to host nuclear weapons or related materials (see GSN, Oct. 23). In addition to nuclear-weapon fears, there are concerns about "dirty bomb" attacks that would use conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material (Times of India, Nov. 5).