Pakistan in Media

The United States could help Pakistan safeguard or destroy highly enriched uranium and other radioactive materials under arrangements being discussed by the two nations, the Boston Globe reported today.

One plan would establish a joint program to track down and eliminate Pakistani materials that terrorists could disperse in an improvised nuclear bomb, while a second proposal would enable U.S. personnel to remove highly enriched uranium from Pakistani civilian nuclear sites for disposal in the United States, said two Obama administration officials familiar with the talks between U.S. nonproliferation experts and their counterparts in Pakistan.

Concerns about nuclear security in Pakistan have risen as authorities there face a growing threat from the Taliban and other extremist groups. The Bush administration provided $100 million for nuclear security activities in the South Asian nation, including training and deployment of detection technology.

"The Pakistanis take this very seriously. Pakistan faces some unique challenges," said one high-level U.S. participant in the discussions. "We believe the command and control of the nuclear arsenal is a primary concern of the Pakistanis," the official added.

Read more here