<p>"New American intelligence assessments have concluded that Pakistan has steadily expanded its nuclear arsenal since President Obama came to office, and that it is building the capability to surge ahead in the production of nuclear-weapons material, putting it on a path to overtake Britain as the world's fifth largest nuclear weapons power," The New York Times reported.<br /><br />"The country already has more than enough weapons for an effective deterrent against India," an official said speaking on condition of anonymity.<br /><br />The US, Russia and China are currently the three largest nuclear weapons states.<br />"If those estimates are correct — and some government officials regard them as high — it would put Pakistan on a par with long-established nuclear powers," the paper said.<br />'The New York Times' report comes a day after 'The Washington Post' reported that Pakistan has doubled its nuclear and arms stockpile to 110 warheads. The State Department, however, refused to comment on all such reports.<br /><br />"These are estimates attributed to a non-governmental organization. We do not comment on nuclear issues, particularly the size of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal," State Department spokesman P J Crowley, told reporters at his daily news conference.<br />According to 'The New York Times', the new American military assistance poses a direct challenge to a central element of the Obama's national security strategy, the reduction of nuclear stockpiles around the world.<br /><br />"Pakistan's determination to add considerably to its arsenal — mostly to deter India— has also become yet another irritant in its often testy relationship with Washington, particularly as Pakistan seeks to block Obama's renewed efforts to negotiate a global treaty that would ban the production of new nuclear material," it said.<br /><br />"When Obama came to office, his aides were told that the arsenal "was in the mid-to-high 70s," according to one official who had been briefed at the time, though estimates ranged from 60 to 90," the daily said adding that the number of deployed weapons now ranges from the mid-90s to more than 110.<br /><br />"We've seen a consistent, constant buildup in their inventory, but it hasn’t been a sudden rapid rise. We're very, very well aware of what they’re doing," a senior American military official was quoted as saying.<br /><br />White House officials share the assessment that the increase in actual weapons has been what one termed "slow and steady," it said.</p>
<p>"New American intelligence assessments have concluded that Pakistan has steadily expanded its nuclear arsenal since President Obama came to office, and that it is building the capability to surge ahead in the production of nuclear-weapons material, putting it on a path to overtake Britain as the world's fifth largest nuclear weapons power," The New York Times reported.<br /><br />"The country already has more than enough weapons for an effective deterrent against India," an official said speaking on condition of anonymity.<br /><br />The US, Russia and China are currently the three largest nuclear weapons states.<br />"If those estimates are correct — and some government officials regard them as high — it would put Pakistan on a par with long-established nuclear powers," the paper said.<br />'The New York Times' report comes a day after 'The Washington Post' reported that Pakistan has doubled its nuclear and arms stockpile to 110 warheads. The State Department, however, refused to comment on all such reports.<br /><br />"These are estimates attributed to a non-governmental organization. We do not comment on nuclear issues, particularly the size of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal," State Department spokesman P J Crowley, told reporters at his daily news conference.<br />According to 'The New York Times', the new American military assistance poses a direct challenge to a central element of the Obama's national security strategy, the reduction of nuclear stockpiles around the world.<br /><br />"Pakistan's determination to add considerably to its arsenal — mostly to deter India— has also become yet another irritant in its often testy relationship with Washington, particularly as Pakistan seeks to block Obama's renewed efforts to negotiate a global treaty that would ban the production of new nuclear material," it said.<br /><br />"When Obama came to office, his aides were told that the arsenal "was in the mid-to-high 70s," according to one official who had been briefed at the time, though estimates ranged from 60 to 90," the daily said adding that the number of deployed weapons now ranges from the mid-90s to more than 110.<br /><br />"We've seen a consistent, constant buildup in their inventory, but it hasn’t been a sudden rapid rise. We're very, very well aware of what they’re doing," a senior American military official was quoted as saying.<br /><br />White House officials share the assessment that the increase in actual weapons has been what one termed "slow and steady," it said.</p>