More Nuclear Bombs For Pakistan

The U.S State Department has evidence Pakistan is reprocessing fuel produced at a nuclear reactor to make weapons-grade plutonium, reports CBS News National Security Correspondent David Martin.

Recent air samples taken secretly by U.S. intelligence near a Pakistani nuclear reactor contain traces of a gas called Krypton-85, which to scientists is a dead give away that plutonium is being reprocessed.

"That fact, that they're reprocessing is very significant," said nuclear expert David Albright. "That clearly says that the purpose of this is to make nuclear weapons."

The report came only days before President Clinton traveled to Pakistan and its regional rival, India.

Mr. Clinton said Thursday he will urge India and Pakistan to reverse their nuclear arms race, calling it "dangerous for them and the world."

U.S. intelligence estimates that Pakistan already has 30 to 50 nuclear bombs made of uranium.

According to Albright, making plutonium weapons, which are smaller and more powerful, accelerates the nuclear arms race with India.

"The smaller the weapon, the easier it is to deliver both by aircraft and by missile,"Albright said.

Other analysts agree.

"A lightweight plutonium bomb could be put on top of the mobile M-11 missiles they've gotten from the Chinese," said David Pike of the Federation of American Scientists. "There'd be a lot of incentive for India to try and destroy all of those missiles while they're still on the base rather than waiting for them to disperse into the field."

The Chinese-made missile can be transported on the back of a truck.

When not in the field, the missiles are parked in garages at a Pakistani air base, making a tempting target for India.

U.S. intelligence estimates that reprocessing fuel from the reactor in question will give the Pakistanis enough plutonium to build two nuclear weapons a year.

India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons in May 1998. The two countries, once part of the same British colony, have fought three wars since gaining independence in 1947. This summer, the rivals skirmished over the disputed Kashmir region.

The United States, Russia, China, Britain and France are acknowledged nuclear powers. Israel is widely believed to also have the bomb.