Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons

by Paul K. Kerr

Pakistan¿s nuclear arsenal consists of approx. 60 nuclear warheads, although it could be larger. Islamabad is producing fissile material, adding to related production facilities, and deploying additional delivery vehicles. These steps will enable Pakistan to undertake both quantitative and qualitative improvements to its nuclear arsenal. Islamabad does not have a public, detailed nuclear doctrine, but its ¿minimum credible deterrent¿ is widely regarded as primarily a deterrent to Indian military action. Contents of this report: Background; Nuclear Weapons; Responding to India?; Delivery Vehicles; Nuclear Doctrine; Command and Control; Security Concerns; Proliferation Threat; and Pakistan¿s Response to the Proliferation Threat.