Pak N-arsenal safety a concern: Antony

NEW DELHI: India has reiterated its serious concerns over the safety of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal in the backdrop of the terror attack on the naval airbase in the port city of Karachi.

"Naturally it (nuclear arsenal) is a concern not only for us but for everybody," said defence minister A K Antony on Wednesday, after addressing the ongoing naval commanders' conference here.

"Developments in Pakistan, especially in Karachi, are a matter of serious concern to us. We are closely monitoring the situation and also taking precautions," he added.

Indian armed forces are maintaining a high state of vigil to guard against any "spillovers" in the backdrop of the terror attack in Karachi as well as the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.

"I can assure you that all the three services are taking necessary precautions and we are closely monitoring the situation. They have to be vigilant not only because of the situation in Pakistan, but also since we are also always on the radar of terrorists," said Antony.

With extremists mounting concerted attacks on Pakistan's defence installations, Islamabad's ability to safeguard its nuclear arsenal has been questioned around the globe.

The worry is that jihadis or hardliners within the Pakistan Army might get access to enriched uranium, nuclear components or know-how for "dirty bombs", or even actual warheads in a worst case scenario.

Pakistan, of course, is also bolstering the number of its nuclear warheads as well as delivery systems, as also stepping up efforts to fast supplement its ongoing enriched uranium-based nuke programme with a weapons-grade plutonium one.