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| Pakistan constructing second heavy water production reactor | | |
New Delhi, Aug 24 The government today said that Pakistan
is setting up a heavy water production reactor inside the Khushab
nuclear complex which is capable of producing enough plutonium
for 40 to 50 nuclear weapons a year.
''Government is constantly monitoring all developments that
have a bearing on India's security environment and is committed
to taking all necessary steps to safeguard the nation's security,''
Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said.
The news on the heavy water production reactor is based on a
US-based non-governmental Institute for Science and International
Security (ISIS) report which was stated to be ''grossly
exaggerated'' by Pakistan Ambassador the US Mahmud Ali Durrani.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Sharma said
''there is no definite information on the size of the Pakistan's
nuclear arsenal.''
He said the government was aware that Pakistan was actively
pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons programme for more than three
decades and has plans for expansion of the programme.
As per the agreement on prohibition of attacks against Nuclear
Installations and Facilities between India and Pakistan, signed on
31 December 1988, ratified on 27 January 1991, and exchanged every
year on January one, a list of the locational coordinates of nuclear
facilities in both the countries was given to each other. This list
was last exchanged on January one 2006.
''The government regularly monitors proliferation trends in the
neighbourhood . The government remains fully vigilant and takes all
necessary steps to safeguard India's security and national
interests,'' Mr Sharma said.
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