US alarmed by growing stockpile of Pakistan’s nuclear

The US is concerned over Pakistan’s fast-expanding stockpile of nuclear weapons which combined with its evolving doctrine increases the risk of an “accident”, Pentagon’s top spy master has said.

“Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile continues to grow. We are concerned that this growth, as well as the evolving doctrine associated with tactical nuclear weapons, increases the risk of an incident or accident,” Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart, director of Defence Intelligence Agency told legislature on Wednesday during a Congressional hearing.

“Islamabad continues to take steps to improve its nuclear security, and is aware of the threat presented by extremists to its programme,” Gen. Stewart said during his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on Worldwide Threats.

Pakistan will face internal security threats from militant, sectarian and separatist groups this year, he said, adding that ISIS in Khorasan and Al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent will also remain significant security concerns for Islamabad.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s finance minister on Thursday said that his country will never roll back its nuclear programme despite financial hardship and threat of mounting external debt.

The Express Tribune reported that Ishaq Dar dismissed reports about Pakistan bartering away its nuclear arsenal.