Indian Army "concerned" over reports of Pak increasing Nuke

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) 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,"
India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said Thursday
night in Bangalore.

Terming the developments in Pakistan as a "matter of
concern", the Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor Friday 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. PTI AJD
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