Holes Emerge in Secret US Shield of Pakistan Nukes

The US has secretly spent $100 million to safeguard Pakistan's nuclear weapons, but some officials fear protections may have been undermined by Pakistan's reluctance to share information. The aid, buried in a secret part of the budget, was intended to improve nuclear safety, reports the New York Times. But Pakistan has refused to reveal exactly how purchased safety equipment has been used or the location of its warheads.

"You are never sure what you really accomplished," said one US official. The program was set up after 9/11 amid US fears that Islamists could get  access to Pakistan's nukes—a nightmare scenario that President Pervez Musharraf has evoked to justify his iron grip. American officials say they believe Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is safe for now. (More nuclear weapons stories.)