Pakistan: Instability Raises Nuclear Security Concerns

Managing the Atom Fellow Hassan Abbas provides analysis of Pakistan’s nuclear command and control systems and the security of its nuclear program in the aftermath of the recent test-firing of a nuclear-capable missile and terrorist attack.

"A lack of certainty about the extent and nature of earlier proliferation activity makes it difficult to assess Pakistan's nuclear safety and control measures. The military is the custodian of these and can expect to remain so even in the event of transition to civilian rule. The key question is its competence in this role, and the risk of a fracture in the command structure should there be a split within the military as a result of intensified political instability."

This article is reprinted with the permission of Oxford Analytica Ltd © Oxford Analytica 2007