Editing Nuclear terrorism (section)

=== Pakistan ===
In 2009, a paper published in [[West Point Military Academy]]'s journal alleged that Pakistan's nuclear sites had been attacked by al-Qaeda and the Taliban at least three times.<ref name="Dean">{{cite news|last1=Nelson|first1=Dean|title=Pakistan's nuclear bases targeted by al-Qaeda|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6011668/Pakistans-nuclear-bases-targeted-by-al-Qaeda.html|access-date=18 September 2017|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=11 August 2009|archive-date=17 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217203110/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/6011668/Pakistans-nuclear-bases-targeted-by-al-Qaeda.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Pakistan Armed Forces]] rejected the allegations. [[Talat Masood]], a political analyst, said that the nuclear link was "absolute nonsense".<ref name="Declan"/> All three attacks were suicide and appeared to aim at causing maximum damage and not seizing weapons.<ref name="Dawn"/> In January 2010, it was revealed that the US army was training a specialised unit "to seal off and snatch back" Pakistani nuclear weapons in the event that militants would obtain a nuclear device or materials that could make one. Pakistan supposedly possesses about 160+ nuclear warheads. US officials refused to speak on the record about the American safety plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6991056.ece|title=Login|access-date=2010-01-17|archive-date=2023-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207230135/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A study by the [[Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs]] at [[Harvard University]] titled "Securing the Bomb 2010," found that Pakistan's stockpile "faces a greater threat from Islamic terror groups seeking nuclear weapons than any other nuclear stockpile on earth."<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/12/pakistan-nuclear-weapons-security-fears Pakistan nuclear weapons at risk of theft by terrorists, US study warns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325030334/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/12/pakistan-nuclear-weapons-security-fears |date=2017-03-25 }}, [[The Guardian]], 2010-04-12</ref> In 2016, [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] Director [[Vincent R. Stewart]] said that Pakistan "continues to take steps to improve its nuclear security, and is aware of the threat presented by extremists to its program".<ref name="CRS"/>

According to Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, a former investigator with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and the [[United States Department of Energy|U.S. Department of Energy]], there is "a greater possibility of a [[nuclear meltdown]] in Pakistan than anywhere else in the world. The region has more violent extremists than any other, the country is unstable, and its arsenal of nuclear weapons is expanding."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8615484.stm Could terrorists get hold of a nuclear bomb?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413073333/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8615484.stm |date=2010-04-13 }}, [[BBC]], 2010-04-12</ref> In 2015, [[White House]] press secretary [[Josh Earnest]] said that the US has confidence that Pakistan is "well aware of the range of potential threats to its nuclear arsenal". He added that the US is "confident that Pakistan has a professional and dedicated security force that understands the importance and the high priority that the world places on nuclear security".<ref name="CRS"/>

Nuclear weapons expert [[David Albright]] and author of "Peddling Peril" has also expressed concerns that Pakistan's stockpile may not be secure despite assurances by both Pakistan and U.S. government. He stated that Pakistan "has had many leaks from its program of classified information and sensitive nuclear equipment, and so you have to worry that it could be acquired in Pakistan".<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/13/nuclear.terrorists/ Official: Terrorists seek nuclear material, but lack ability to use it] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109024005/http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/13/nuclear.terrorists/ |date=2012-11-09 }}, [[CNN]], 2010-04-13</ref> In 2015, [[Richard G. Olson]], former US Ambassador to Pakistan, expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Pakistani security forces to control and secure its nuclear weapons. He added that Islamabad has "specifically taken into account the insider threat".<ref name="CRS"/>

A 2016 study by the [[Congressional Research Service]] titled 'Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons', noted that Pakistan's "initiatives, such as strengthened export control laws, improved personnel security, and international nuclear security cooperation programs, have improved Pakistan's nuclear security".<ref name="CRS">{{cite web|last1=Paul K. Kerr|first1=Mary Beth Nikitin|title=Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL34248.pdf|publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]]|access-date=19 September 2017|archive-date=1 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101030754/https://fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL34248.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>