Pakistan builds third nuclear reactor

PAKISTAN appears to be building a third plutonium nuclear reactor to significantly boost its production of atomic bombs, a US research group said.

Satellite images show work progressing rapidly at Khusab, 100km from Islamabad, where the other two reactors are sited, the Institute for Science and International Security said yesterday.

Pakistan carried out its only nuclear tests in May 1998 after similar detonations by rival India, alarming the world. The Islamic republic is a key ally in the US-led “war on terror”.