PM to convey concerns over Pak nuke weapons

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday and Friday convey to the world community India’s concerns over “battlefield nuclear weapons” deployed by Pakistan, pointing out that such moves will raise the possibility of atomic bombs falling into hands of the terrorists.

Modi, who will attend the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington over the next two days, will first speak on the issue during a dinner hosted by US President Barack Obama at White House on Thursday for the leaders attending the conclave. He will present New Delhi’s assessment of the threat of nuclear terrorism emanating from the neighbourhood of India.

“The summit would deliberate on the crucial issue of threat to nuclear security caused by nuclear terrorism. Leaders would discuss ways and measure through which to strengthen the global nuclear security architecture, especially to ensure that non-state actors do not get access to nuclear material,” Prime Minister said in a statement released in New Delhi ahead o the Nuclear Security Summit.

Modi is likely to tacitly convey India’s concerns over development and deployment of tactical nuclear weapons by Pakistan, without directly referring to the neighbouring country.

Pakistan has been developing low-yield and short-range tactical nuclear weapons, ostensibly for possible use in military conflict against India.

The tactical nuclear weapons are designed for use against opposing troops on the battlefield. The strategic nuclear weapons on the other hand are designed for targeting cities in enemy countries. Islamabad in April 2011 announced test of “Hatf-9” or “Nasr” nuclear-capable missile, which was developed to be used at “shorter ranges”.

Islamabad indicated that the tactical nuclear weapons had been developed and deployed for use as a deterrent against “surgical strikes” or incursion by India into territory of Pakistan.   Ahead of the Nuclear Security Summit, the US reiterated its concerns over deployment of battlefield nuclear weapons by Pakistan.

“Our concerns regarding the continuing deployment of battlefield nuclear weapons by Pakistan relate to a reality of the situation. When battlefield nuclear weapons are deployed forward, they can represent enhanced nuclear security threat,” Rose Gottemoeller, the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, said in Washington.

“It is more difficult to sustain positive control over systems that are deployed forward. We found this lesson ourselves out in Europe during the years of the Cold War. And so I do think that that is a reality of the situation," she told foreign journalists at a news conference yesterday,” the PTI quoted Gottemoeller telling journalists on Tuesday