Pakistan's nuclear capability a big bluff?

[Bhaisahab]

The Times of India poses this question in an article. Of course, sceptics could dismiss us Indians of being smugly suspicious about Pakistan's nuke capability, but still...

"There is a curious thing about the Abdul Qadeer Khan denounement: His nuclear weapons technology supermarket had been open for nearly 20 years for the Libyans and some 10 for the Iranians.

Yet, what the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) watchdogs have found is a fairly rudimentary capability. Was Khan bluffing the desperate Iranians and gullible Libyans? "

<SNIP>

"Certainly on May 21, Pakistan did conduct a nuclear test in the Chagai mountains of Baluchistan . But there were some strange things about the test. First, no country testing a weapon would line them up in a single tunnel, as the Pakistanis apparently did, and detonate them.

Second, there was the strange journey by Pakistan 's Atomic Energy Commission personnel to China in the week before the test. Did the Chinese supply the useable devices to the nervous Pakistanis?"

full article: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow/484138.cms

[BrokenSegue]

1. I sure hope they have them

If they don't have weapons then India Might Get Ideas.
:)

[mobuto]

2. A Very Dangerous Game

Could the Pakistani deterrent be an elaborate hoax designed as a deterrent against Indian nuclear weapons capability? Is this the reason that the Americans, who normally get apoplectic on the subject of proliferation, seem so relaxed about the Pakistani activities.

This is exactly the sort of thinking that could set off a nuclear war. Maybe Pakistan is really a paper tiger. But then again, maybe it isn't. Whatever the answer, India cannot afford the gamble required to find out.