Rajya Sabha
The Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Anand Sharma informed the Rajya Sabha today that a US based non-governmental Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) in a recent report stated that Pakistan was making a second heavy water production reactor inside the Khushab nuclear complex which was capable of producing enough plutonium for 40 to 50 nuclear weapons a year. Pakistani Ambassador to Washington, Mahmud Ali Durrani in an interview to “The Washington Times” on 4th August, 2006 however stated that the ISIS report was grossly exaggerated. He also stated that “the plutonium may certainly be used for military purposes, but it is simply not the case that it will increase our capability X-fold.” The ISIS report was subsequently disputed by the US National Security Council. According to a New York Times report of August 3, 2006, US National Security Council Spokesman, Frederick Jones said that “US Government experts believe that the reactor is expected to be substantially smaller and less capable than reported”.
Government constantly monitors 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.
This information was given by the Minister in reply to a question by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, MP and Shri Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha, MP.
AK/MK
(Release ID :20247)