After Pakistan developed its nuclear weapons, they secretly shared that knowledge with other countries. One of their chief nuclear scientists, Abdul Qadeer Khan, was implicated in this nuclear proliferations activity by the United States. In 2004, he was brought before a Pakistani tribunal to account for his activities. He was placed under house arrest but in 2009, he was freed by a judge. There is widespread speculation that, in reality, the Pakistani government was aware of his activities and sanctioned them until the U.S. presented evidence of his activities to the world. The U.S. is still concerned that he may be involved in underground trafficking of nuclear secrets.
Saudi Arabia has a been a strong supporter and major funder of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program for decades. Many analysts think that there is a deal between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for Pakistan to supply nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia upon request. Part of the reason for this is probably Saudi Arabia's hostility toward Israel and the existence of the Israeli nuclear arsenal. Another motive involves the possibility of Iran creating its own nuclear bomb. Saudi Arabia and Iran are bitter enemies.
Recently, General Rashid, the Chairman of the Pakistani Joint Chiefs of Staff committee, visited Saudi Arabia. He met with the new Saudi King Salman. He also had separate meetings with the Saudi Defense Minister, the Deputy Crown Prince, the Interior Minister and the Minister of the Saudi National Guard. Now as in the past, changes of leadership in either nation have been rapidly followed by meetings between Saudi and Pakistani high officials. Some say that this practice may include renewing the rumored nuclear deal between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Last year, Saudi Arabia held a parade featuring a Chinese missile called the DongFeng-3. This missile was once the foundation of China's nuclear weapons program. Saudi Arabia had possessed these missiles since the 1980s but had not publicized the fact before. The chief of Pakistan's army was a guest of honor at the ceremony. Chinese designs were used for the first Pakistani nuclear warheads and Chinese missiles are owned by Saudi Arabia. Sounds like adapting Pakistani warheads to the Saudi's missile could be fairly easy.
The current Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, has a strained relationship with the Pakistani military. The army in Pakistan is a major institution with special housing and schools for military officers. The army wields not just military power but is also wealthy from investment in private enterprises. They are also involved in Pakistani politics. Nawaz Sharif had previously held power and was overthrown in a military coup. However, the Saudi and Pakistani nuclear arrangement seems to above and immune to these internal shifts of power.
Any proliferation of nuclear weapons is a threat to the future of humanity. One of the goals of the Islamic State is to take over Saudi Arabia. If Saudi Arabia is invaded and assimilated by the Islamic State fighters who are already testing Saudi defenses on the northern border, then any nuclear weapons that the Saudi had would fall into the hands of religious fanatics set on conquering the Middle East and establishing a theocracy. Let us hope that this particular nuclear nightmare is not realized.
