Pakistan expanding nuke arsenal, has stockpile of 90 warheads

Pakistan's atomic weapons stockpile has umped to 70-90 warheads rom a previous figure of 60 and it is also developing two new types of nuclear-capable cruise missiles, according to a top American scientist.

Writing for the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), Hans M Kristensen cited the latest Nuclear Notebook published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to highlight Pakistan's expansion of its nuclear warheads.

The estimate of 70-90 nuclear warheads in Pakistan's atomic weapons stockpile is an increase compared with the previous estimate of approximately 60 warheads due to Islamabad's pending introduction of a new ballistic missile and cruise missiles, he said.

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Islamabad admits Fahim Ansari went to Pakistan on its fake passport 26/11

Pakistan has, for the first time, confirmed the role of one of the two Indians charged in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks although only partially.

In its dossier given to New Delhi on July 11, Islamabad has said that Mumbai-resident Fahim Ansari traveled to Pakistan in late 2007 using forged documents as accused by the Mumbai Police.

Ansari and Bihar's Sabahuddin Ahmed are alleged to be Indian operatives of Lashkar-e-Toiba and charged with surveying targets in Mumbai, making maps and videos and giving them to their Lashkar bosses in Pakistan to help guide the attackers who raided the city in November.

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From Pakistan, says Pakistan

Denail after denial later and barely weeks after it sacked its National Security Advisor for saying that the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks could be from Pakistan, Islamabad took the first step today towards admitting the facts. Under intense international pressure for a response to the Indian dossier, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry acknowledged that the 26/11 terror attacks, that killed over 180 people, were launched from Pak shores and at least partly plotted on its soil.

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told a news conference that criminal cases had been opened against nine suspects on charges of “abetting, conspiracy and facilitation” of a terrorist act. He said six of them were already in custody, including Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah, Lashkar-e-Toiba leaders named by India as the masterminds of the attack, and a person who sent an e-mail claiming responsibility for the attacks. Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone Pakistani terrorist captured in the Mumbai attacks, is one of those named in the FIR. Pakistan wants his confessional statement made during his interrogation in Mumbai, Malik said.

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Obama will want ISI under civilian control: Kerry in Delhi

With barely a month left for US President-elect Barack Obama to officially enter White House, influential Democrat Senator and likely next head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John Kerry today made it clear that the Obama Administration will ask the Pakistan government to bring the ISI firmly under civilian control.

When it was pointed out that Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had to roll back an earlier decision to place the ISI under the Interior Minister, Kerry said this was a “young government” but was well intentioned and would make the change in the days ahead. The issue is being linked with the aid package being worked out for Pakistan.

Kerry, who hopes to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow, will be briefing Obama once he returns from his trip that includes a stopover in Islamabad where he will hold talks with Zardari.

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Pakistan bomber targets Danish embassy, kills at least eight

At least eight persons were killed and 24 injured when a suicide bomber today blew up his explosive-laden car outside the embassy of denmark,near the indian high Commisioner's residence in the Pakistani residence in the Pakistani capital. No group claimed responsibility for the blast but security officals said the attack could be linked to the row over caricatures of the Propher published in Danish newspapers.

Witness said the car drove up and stopped outside the embassy in the upmarket sector F-6/2, where several diplomatic missions are located, shortly before the blast occured at about 1 pm.

"It was most likely a suicide blast, said islamabad SSP Ahmed Latif, Other officials said evidence collected from the site included body parts and ball bearings, Over 30 kg of explosives were packed in the car, they said.

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