In an article for YaleGlobal [2], Leonard Spector [3]of the Ploughshares-funded James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies [4]outlines the danger the Taliban poses to Pakistan's nuclear assets. Spector shows that access to all the nuclear sites is not necessary to reconstitute a weapon of mass destruction – relatively abundant radioactive material could cause extensive damage. However, Spector argues, “More troubling than loss of individual nuclear sites … is the possibility that their continued military gains … could enable the militants to topple the country’s civilian government and take charge in Islamabad.” The prospect of pro-Islamist military or intelligence factions seizing power, intensified Taliban attacks, and the “insider threat” at nuclear facilities are among the potential dangers Spector foresees.
Links
[1] https://ploughshares.org/file/689
[2] http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=12349
[3] http://www.ploughshares.org/expert/110
[4] http://cns.miis.edu/