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Pakistan readies nuclear test-site, claims US intelligence

Pakistan has completed most of the preparations needed to test a nuclear weapon, US intelligence officials have concluded.

Based primarily on satellite intelligence, US officials alerted policy makers on Tuesday that Pakistan is close to being ready to test a nuclear weapon, two weeks after arch-rival India set off five underground nuclear devices.

"They continue to make preparations and appear to be very close to being in a position to conduct a test should they decide to do so,'' said a US intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "The level of preparation would suggest that they do indeed plan to conduct a test.''

US spy satellites have been monitoring Pakistani activity at the Chagai hills test site in western Pakistan. In particular, they have noted tunnelling activity that typically precedes an underground test, as well as the laying of explosive monitoring equipment and the setting up of observation and measuring posts.

Criticism in Washington of the failure by US intelligence to provide more advance warning of the Indian tests has led to an intense focus on India and Pakistan by US intelligence assets. Intelligence officials for days have been reporting on the progress by Pakistan in readying its nuclear test site.

UNI

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