Evil often triumphs, but never conquers. Joseph Roux Since Pakistan has joined the nuclear club, reports have been pouring in about USAs nefarious design to deprive the country of its nuclear assets. According to media reports, Americas special forces units are rehearsing in case the leadership in Washington issues orders to snatch Pakistans 100-plus nuclear weapons if it feared they were about to fall into the wrong hands. Perhaps, the Obama administration seems to have underestimated the resolve of the Pakistani people and military after the Navy SEALs succeeded in killing Al-Qaeda Chief Osama Bin Laden (OBL) in a raid at Abbottabad. Also, it has misread the Pakistani armys state of preparedness when a handful of terrorists succeeded in attacking PNS Mehran in Karachi, and destroying navys two P-3C Orion aircrafts. For quite some time, the US administration and its intelligence agency, the CIA, have been spending millions of dollars on recruiting local agents to gather information about Pakistans nuclear weapons. But this does not mean that our military and intelligence agency, the ISI, are not aware about their evil designs; they (Pak Army and ISI) have, indeed, put in foolproof security systems for the safety of the nuclear arsenal. However, it would be prudent if those concerned with their security are not only put on further alert, but are also provided the equipment that is required to counter any act of aggression against it. So, any attempt to deprive Pakistan from its nukes by Washington will be at best a misadventure, and it will not be tolerated and could lead to unforeseen consequences, even for the United States. Also, it is in our interest to warn those nations, especially India and Israel, that are hostile towards our nuclear programme and may miscalculate an adventure which may trigger grave consequences for the South Asian region. Anyway, this situation needs to be reviewed in the context where several congressional panels of the US were briefed about the contingency plans, which has been prepared by their top leadership to stop Pakistans nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands. This clearly indicates that the Obama administration is planning a stupid adventure without realising the outcome, if such an exercise is undertaken by its military. It should also realise that all hands are wrong, except those of the concerned authorities in Pakistan. Moreover, India, reportedly, has been practising its Cold Start Doctrine (CSD), which is equally dangerous, since it will lead to consequences that will be unbearable for the neighbouring countries India and Pakistan. Even though, the Pakistani government and the armed forces have rightly designed their own strategy to inflict a fatal blow on the Indian army in case they initiate a war. But the main concern for Islamabad remains Washingtons plans that have been building up for years, and it is against these designs that Pakistan must have its own contingency plan to ensure that no attempt will ever succeed to destroy its nuclear arsenal. It would be in the fitness of things, if the Pakistani leadership not only educates its own people in case of such an eventuality, but also an exercise must be conducted to plug the loopholes that are detected in the effort, which has been made till now by the government to protect its vital assets. In the same vein, Islamabad needs to take steps on the diplomatic front so that Pakistan can clearly tell the international community, especially the US, India and Israel, that there is no possibility of its nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands. However, the best possible defence mechanism must be placed, for example, if it is a three-layer security, it should be enhanced to four-layers. It will surely increase the cost being borne by the Government of Pakistan, but the finances spent to protect the countrys vital deterrence from hostile forces will be money well spent. Nevertheless, this does not mean that Pakistan should engage in an arms race; in fact, it means that minimal deterrence should always be maintained that is absolutely essential for the nations defence. In case of certain technological disadvantages, Pakistan can seek assistance from friendly countries like China and also purchase the much needed technologies from Europe that will boost its defence. In addition, it needs to purchase the technologies that would boost up the defence mechanism of the sites where the nuclear arsenal is kept, including radars and other military sensors, that would detect not only high flying US surveillance planes, but will also help Pakistans navigators to block those passages that are vulnerable and could be utilised by radar evading technology available with the US. According to reports, anti-stealth technology is now available. It is important that Pakistans leadership, both civilian and military, make sincere efforts to immediately acquire this technology in order to ensure that the nations airspace is not violated in future. Although Pakistan does not have the capability to match Americas military power, yet the resolve of our people is enough to tilt the balance in favour of the country in case the Americans try to indulge in any misadventure. More so, streamlining and pruning of the people attached with the nuclear programme must be periodically carried out to ensure that the enemy never succeeds in infiltrating into our system/organisation or the facility, which may bother us at a later stage. Despite the fact that the situation is not so alarming at present, it must be remembered that great national victories are always plotted during peace time and those countries that lower their guard during peaceful years tend to suffer the most once an eventuality is thrust on them. Thus, while Washington plots a strategy to dispossess Pakistan of its nuclear assets, Islamabad should design its own contingency plans to block the evil designs plotted against the countrys nuclear arsenal from any quarter. However, this objective can only be achieved in case dedicated and committed Pakistanis are associated with these programmes. At the same time, it is necessary that the people of Pakistan, along with the civilian and military leadership, understand their responsibilities and ensure that no one - even the Americans - dare cast an evil eye on the countrys nukes for all times to come. The writer has been associated with various newspapers as editor and columnist. At present, he hosts a political programme on Pakistan Television. Email: zarnatta@hotmail.com