Amidst growing Congressional concern over the safety and security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, US Senator Thomas R Carperas said that "preventing Pakistan's nuclear weapons and technology from falling into the wrong hands should remain top priority." Carperas chairs the Senate Subcommittee on International Security -- an appendage of the larger Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Carper, in convening a hearing of his sub-committee to explore the efficacy of the so-called US-Pakistan Strategic Relationship, asserted, "The possibility of Al Qaeda or another terrorist group acquiring a warhead or enough radioactive material to create a dirty bomb is something that we simply cannot leave to chance."
While acknowledging that "there is a very small chance that Pakistan's nuclear assets could be seized by terrorists or other militant groups," the lawmaker argued that it is imperative that the US "should pursue policies that promote the safety of Islamabad's nuclear capabilities."
"Political instability, a growing Islamic insurgency, a demoralised army, and an intensely anti-American population are the hallmarks of today's Pakistan," he said.
"In fact, most national security experts agree that Pakistan is the most dangerous country in the world today," he added.
Carper said that Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had recently called the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, "the site of planning for the next attack" on the United States.
The lawmaker said, "It has become clear in recent months that the billions of US dollars poured into Pakistan have not helped secure its border with Afghanistan because we failed to link assistance to specific policy goals."
"We also know our policies toward Pakistan since 9/11 have failed to stop or even mitigate anti-Western militants or religiously-based extremist elements in Pakistan," he added.
Carper disclosed that a recent study released by the RAND Corporation, often considered the Pentagon's own strategic think tank, had stated, "Pakistani intelligence agents have aided both Afghan and Pakistani Taliban insurgents and compromised US military movements."
He said that RAND had warned that America would face 'crippling, long-terms consequences if insurgent strongholds in Pakistan are not removed'.
Thus, Carper said in light "of the virulent anti-American Islamic insurgency raging on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan -- from Balochistan to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, and up to the North West Frontier Province -- we must decide how we effectively move forward with this partnership."
He slammed the State Department for a finding -- in a report submitted to Congress that Pakistan was making "significant and sustained progress toward eliminating the safe haven for terrorists."
Carper said this was diametrically contrary to a recent General Accountability Office report that had noted that there was broad agreement, including among the Director of National Intelligence, US embassy officials in Islamabad, the Pentagon, and others "that Al Qaeda had established a safe haven in the FATA and reconstituted its ability to attack America." The GAO is the investigative arm of the US Congress.
He also expressed concern in the wake of the RAND study reporting continued support given by Pakistani government agencies to the Taliban.
"Is there is any recent evidence of Pakistani intelligence or military officials supporting terrorist elements in acquiring or training to use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons technology," he queried.
Carper also said that there seemingly was an ignorance about "the Pakistani government's involvement in nuclear and missile proliferation activities," and questioned the Bush administration's effectiveness in stopping or reducing these activities.
"And how credible is the Pakistani government's disavowal of any knowledge of former Pakistani nuclear scientist A Q Khan's proliferation activities in light of his very recent recanting of his confession?" he asked.
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Donald Camp, appearing before the sub-committee, acknowledged that the administration was "concerned about the negotiation of peace agreements with certain groups in the tribal areas."
"Negotiations with tribes in Pakistan are not a new tactic, and we understand that the recent negotiations are part of the new government's plan for bringing security and stability to the tribal areas."
However, Camp declared, "Outcomes are what matter. An agreement that allows extremists to regroup and rearm is not acceptable. Any agreement must advance the goal of ending Al Qaeda and Taliban activity, the training of suicide bombers, cross-border attacks, and the infiltration of settled areas."
With regard to nuclear security, the senior State Department official said that "Pakistan has taken constructive steps to enhance the security of its nuclear material and assets and to prevent diversion of sensitive items and technology as occurred with the A Q Khan network."
Camp assured lawmakers, "Pakistan takes this responsibility very seriously." He added that the administration is 'also encouraged by Pakistan's participation in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism and strongly support these efforts.'
He reiterated, "We will continue to work with Pakistan to help ensure that its nuclear weapons remain secure and prevent nuclear proliferation."
