Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Al Qaeda & Taliban Targets: Pakistani's Nuke Facilities


Bill Roggio over at The Long War Journal has a MUST READ article on the wave of targeted attacks on Pakistan's nuclear weapons facilities and bases that have occurred over the past 3 months. You simply have to read that full article there.

There was another suicide bombing at one of the facilities again just yesterday but Bill has sewn the pieces together and shows how it all fits into a strategy.

The world will never be the same with nuclear weapons in the hands of either al Qaeda or the Taliban...or should I say, what world?!

I've excerpted key clips below but please review Bill's piece - pay attention to the mapped details of facilities.


Al Qaeda, Taliban targeting Pakistani nuclear sites
By Bill RoggioDecember 11, 2007 2:26 PM

Yesterday's suicide bombing at the Kamra Air Force Base in Punjab was not the first strike at a nuclear weapons storage facility. After a closer look at the bases struck inside Pakistan since August, at least two more strikes occurred either on or near nuclear weapons storage facilities, based on open source information on Pakistan's nuclear weapons programs. Since August 2007, there have been two suicide attacks at or near the Sargodha Air Force Base, a nuclear weapons and missile storage facility in central Punjab province. Other attacks in Punjab and the Northwest Frontier Province may be aimed at facilities providing regional security for Pakistan's nuclear program.

On August 2, Pakistani police prevented a suicide bomber from attacking a parade at a police training facility in the city of Sargodha in eastern Punjab province. Police shot and killed the suicide bomber after he climbed the wall of the police academy, fired on a security detail, and ran towards the parade grounds where over 900 recruits assembled. One police officer was killed and another wounded in the exchange.
On November 1, a suicide bomber drove his motorcycle into a bus carrying military and intelligence officers at the air base in Sargodha. Eight were killed and 27 wounded in the strike.

The Sargodha Air Force Base also houses "Pakistan's nuclear-capable, short-range, solid-fueled Hatf III/Ghaznavi/M-11 (total number estimated at 34-80) ballistic missiles," which are thought to be stored "at facilities near the Central Ammunition Depot on Kirana Hills at Sargodha. The evidence captured on US satellite imagery includes missile crates; storage sheds for transporter-erector launch vehicles; missile maintenance facilities; and housing for missile crews."

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