Reports citing non-proliferation experts indicated that the threat to Pakistan's nuclear arsenal was strong and must be taken seriously despite the assurances given by Pakistan and US officials. For instance, as recently as in the July, al-Qaeda had expressed its intention to use Pakistan's nuclear weapons against the US if it could get its hands on them. Oliver Meier, international representative of the Arms Control Association told reporters that while the danger of theft of an operational nuclear weapon was minimal, stealing nuclear weapons components stored at different places could not be ruled out. Another Pakistan expert at the University of Duisburg also pointed out the downside of storing nuclear weapon components at different places. Meier also pointed out the possibility that terror groups and individuals with access to Pakistan's nuclear secrets could cooperate, given past instances of such cooperation between some officials of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Osama bin Laden in the 1990’s1.

• 1. Michael Knigge, “Threat to Pakistani nuclear arsenal is real, say experts,” August 14, 2009, at http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4563482,00.html?maca=en-en_nr-1893-...