Taliban to target nuke production? Weapons stockpile protected, but other links vulnerable

The international community, alarmed over the deteriorating conditions in Pakistan and worried whether the nation's stockpile of nuclear weapons could fall into Taliban hands, has been assured by both Pakistani and U.S. officials that's unlikely at this point, according to a report from Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

But there have been no such assurances regarding the research and production facilities where materials are processed and bombs are assembled.

Pakistani officials have asserted that physical security of their nation's nuclear arsenal is very tight and U.S. officials have echoed the sentiment, since U.S. efforts have helped strengthen it, with physical security reportedly subject to U.S. monitoring.

In fact, security experts claim that the threat to these facilities is low unless the Taliban forcibly take over the reins of power in Islamabad.

However, these same sources say, the Pakistani Taliban may attempt attacks in other areas of nuclear and strategic concern – Pakistani nuclear weapons research and development sites, facilities for the production of plutonium and uranium enrichment, including those to manufacture the weapons themselves. ....