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| Army "concerned" over Pak increasing nukes | | | AGENCIES
New Delhi, May 29: India has voiced its concern over reports about Pakistan's attempts to increase the number of nuclear warheads in its arsenal and said that it was "closely monitoring the situation".
"We certainly are concerned about what is happening in our neighbourhood. We are closely monitoring the situation," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said last night in Bangalore.
Terming the developments in Pakistan as a "matter of concern", the Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor today said, "If the media reports are to be believed, I am told the the number (of Pakistani nuclear weapons) is limited to 60, it is increasing. So definitely, that is matter for concern."
A United States Congressional report had recently suggested that Pakistan had around 60 nuclear weapons in its arsenal and was working to add more in future.
The Army Chief, talking to reporters at a function, said that Pakistan's attempts to expand its nuclear arsenal, more than it required for deterrence, should be stopped by the global community.
"Even if Pakistan is looking at deterrence, they require a minimum amount. But when you keep increasing it, it is a matter of concern...I think the world community should put the kind of pressure, which is required for Pakistan to cap their nuclear weapons," he said.
The Army Chief assured that India had its systems in place to take care of its security needs against the backdrop of developments taking place in Islamabad.
Replying to a query if the jihadi groups in Kashmir were regrouping to fight against the security forces, Kapoor said, "you see, this kind of regrouping by jihadis will always continue to keep happening...I had said that this summer is going to be a testing time because we do expect them to try and enhance the level of infiltration to show that they can cause tremendous amount of damage and somehow reignite the movement in the valley."
"But that is something (that) we are determined to make sure doesn't happen. We have already taken few steps to ensure that infiltration levels are minimised. Those who are able to come through, we are able to tackle them," he added.
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