Pakistan May Install Nuclear Missiles on Its Subs

In what appeared to be the first indication that Pakistan was ready to deploy nuclear weapons, its navy said Thursday that it may put nuclear missiles on its submarines.

Such a move would aggravate tension with nuclear neighbor India, which also announced its intention to deploy nuclear-armed subs.

“We are also fully prepared for the deployment of nuclear missiles by them. We are equal to it,” Indian defense spokesman P.K. Bandopadhyay said in New Delhi.

Pakistan did not offer a time frame for arming its submarines. Both countries detonated nuclear devices in 1998 and declared themselves nuclear powers.

“Pakistan may equip its submarines with nuclear missiles to defend its key naval installations,” said navy spokesman Roshan Khayal.

It’s not known how many or which nuclear weapons Pakistan possesses. But Pakistan recently added three French submarines to its fleet--all capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Khayal said.

Most analysts do not believe that either country has yet deployed nuclear weapons or developed nuclear warheads for their missile systems. Both have, however, tested medium- and long-range missiles capable of hitting deep within each other’s territory.