Times of India
 
NEW DELHI, Dec 10: Pakistan's danger quotient in the world is rising exponentially. A new report on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferation and  terrorism by the United States says, "Pakistan is an ally, but there is a grave danger it could also be an unwitting source of a terrorist attack on the US, possibly using WMDs."

The report of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, called `World at Risk', says, "If one has to map terrorism and WMDs today, all roads would intersect in Pakistan."

The commission recommends that the US should secure Pakistan's nuclear and biological weapons sector. "The President must make securing biological and nuclear materials and weapons in Pakistan a priority."

The report says, "The new US strategy for Pakistan must emphasize working with the Pakistani military and with Pakistani and other foreign intelligence services to make certain that all threats to Pakistan's facilities can be minimized, anticipated, and countered. Moreover, Pakistan has biological research laboratories that possess stocks of dangerous pathogens, some of which may not be adequately secured. The US is currently funding efforts to improve physical security and access control at such facilities."

The report says Pakistan is now a key safe haven for al Qaeda. Quoting the director of national intelligence, Mike McConnell, the report says, "The FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) serves as a staging area for al Qaeda's attacks in support of the Taliban in Afghanistan as well as a location for training new terrorist operatives for attacks in Pakistan, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the United States."

In a significant observation, it says al Qaeda had increased its links with Pakistan's own militants, a linkage, sources said, was clear in the Mumbai attacks. It goes on to say that there appears to be a real danger of Pakistan passing on nuclear technology or materials to terrorists. With about 85 nuclear bombs in its arsenal, the report says, "the risk that radical Islamists-al Qaeda or Taliban may gain access to nuclear material is real. Should the Pakistani government become weaker, and the Pakistani nuclear arsenal grow, that risk will increase."

However, the US aversion to putting its troops on the ground is clear. Despite all the risks and Pakistan's record of diverting foreign aid to its military against India, the report goes on to say that US should continue funding Pakistan. But it adds that the funding should be increased to improve the quality of life for Pakistanis.

"Current US assistance to Pakistan reflects the decision to make tactical, near-term military and security concerns a priority over long-term efforts to bolster Pakistan's democracy and its prospects for economic development. Over the past six years, the US supported Pakistan with a mix of military, security, economic, and social aid, totaling $12 billion. Of that total, $8.9 billion (74%) was devoted to security and military assistance, and only $3.1 billion (26%) went to social and economic programs." The report makes a persuasive case against only aiding the Pakistan military, but add to the development assistance to the country.