A Startling Claim on Nuclear Control
In a dramatic revelation with significant geopolitical implications, a former CIA officer has claimed that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is effectively under the command and control of an American general. The assertion was made by John Kiriakou, a former counterterrorism operative who served in Pakistan. He alleged in a widely circulated video clip that this arrangement was made by the Pakistani government itself. If true, this fundamentally alters the strategic balance in South Asia, suggesting a level of US oversight on a nuclear state that is unprecedented.
Regional Impact and a Missile Strike
According to Kiriakou, this US oversight has significantly reduced the nuclear threat in the region. He went further, suggesting it may be a key reason why India has "backed off" from escalating conflicts in recent years. This explosive claim has emerged alongside new details about a previously unconfirmed Indian military operation. A senior Pakistani official recently admitted that an Indian BrahMos missile had indeed struck the high-security Nur Khan airbase during a clandestine operation. The official described Islamabad being thrown into a "panic mode," uncertain if the missile carried a nuclear payload. The airbase's proximity to Pakistan's Strategic Plans Division—the nerve center for its estimated 170 nuclear warheads—adds a volatile and highly relevant context to Kiriakou's statement.
A Controversial Source
The source of this claim, John Kiriakou, is a well-known and controversial figure in intelligence circles. He first gained international attention in 2007 when he became the first CIA official to publicly confirm the agency's use of waterboarding on al-Qaeda detainees. His career took a dramatic turn in 2012 when he was convicted under the Intelligence Identities Protection Act for leaking classified information to a journalist. He subsequently served nearly two and a half years in a federal prison. His history as a whistleblower who has faced severe legal consequences for his disclosures adds a complex layer to his latest claims, leaving observers to weigh his potential insider knowledge against his contentious past and motivations.
