Pakistan working on more nuclear weapons

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Pakistan is working on the construction of a third heavy water reactor that is supporting a nuclear weapons program, a U.S. policy center said.

Pakistan tested its first nuclear device in 1998. Washington and members of the 46-country Nuclear Suppliers Group are concerned about proliferation in Pakistan after top nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan confessed to selling nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea in 2004.

Pakistan isn't a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

The Institute for Science and International Security said its review of satellite imagery of the Khushab nuclear site in Pakistan shows the construction of a third heavy-water reactor at the military installation.

ISIS said earlier photos of the site showed steam coming from a set of cooling towers at the nuclear facility, suggesting it was in the early stages of operation.

"These reactors support Pakistan's nuclear weapons program," the institute said.

China signed a deal for two new nuclear power reactors in February. Washington argues that the plans require the approval of a 46-country nuclear regulatory consortium that Beijing joined in 2004.

Beijing said the projects don't need the approval of the NSG because the framework agreements for the nuclear projects were signed before China became a member of the multinational non-proliferation group.