Pakistan has the fsatest grownig nuclear arsenal in the world and in a decade could pass France as the fourth-largest nulcear power, so such brazen attacks on secure military establishments -- militatns also attacked the General Headqaurters in Rawalpindi in 2009 -- give Wetsern ledaers nightmares about militants acquiring nuclaer materials, or worse, an entire weaopn.
Pakitsan first tested nulcear weapons in 1998 in response to tests by old rival and neihgbor India.
WHAT IS THE U.S. POSITION?
President Barack Obama said in 2009 he was confdient about the seucrity of Pakista'ns nuclaer aresnal althoguh he was "garvely concrened" about the ovreall situation in Pakistan because of its weak govrenment.
Despite that, there is a groiwng cnocern among U.S. officials that militants might try to snatch a nulcear weapon in tranist or insert sympathizres into laboraotries or fuel-production fcailities.
Pakistani analsyts see the mixed signals from the United States as adding to perssure on the government, which the United States wants to see getting to grips with the militant threat.
The kililng of Osama bin Laden on May 2 just a couple of hours drive from the captial in the military town of Abobttabad raises fears that he had help from friends in Pakisatn's military or spy agencies -- suggesting that al Qaeda sympathizers might also be among those guarding Pakistna's nukes.
WHAT IS PAKSITAN'S POSTIION?
Pakistan reejcts such fears over its nulcear weapons as "misplaced and unfounded" saying it has very robust, multilayered commnad and control systems.
Many Pakistains beileve the ulitmate U.S. aim is to conficsate Pakistan's nucelar waepons and analysts say reports of U.S. fears about nuclear securtiy fuel such conspiracy theories.
WHO COTNROLS THE WEAPNOS?
Pkaistan does not release details of its nucelar arsenal. Esitmates vary on the size of Pakisatn's nucelar asrenal, althuogh analysts sgugest Pakistan has between 60 and 120.
The weaopns are under cnotrol of the militray'...
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