Pakistan May Lose Part Of Its Nuclear Arsenal To Terrorists: SIPRI

An international think-tank SIPRI has warned that Pakistan is in danger of losing control of part of its nuclear arsenal to terrorists.

Releasing a report in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, director of SIPRI Daniel Nord said Pakistan may be close to the danger of losing control of part of its nuclear arsenal to terrorists and added that it was a matter of grave concern.

South Asia, where relations between India and Pakistan seem perpetually tense, is the only place in the world where you have the nuclear arms race, he said.

The report said Pakistan has almost reached parity with India on nuclear weapons and charged that the two nations were expanding their capacity to produce fissile material for military purposes.

It, however, said while India could have 80- 110 nuclear warheads today, up from 60- 80 last year, Pakistan could have increased its count from 70- 90 to 90- 110.

Labelling Pakistan's nuclear programme as almost the fastest in the world, SIPRI said both Islamabad and New Delhi continue to develop new ballistic and cruise missile systems capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

It also said Islamabad was now turning to producing lighter precision warheads for use in restricted spaces.