Recent developments near Pakistan’s Khushab nuclear site indicate the construction of a new underground facility in the Paslian forest near Khushab city. Images from May 2024 reveal significant progress on this facility, featuring four tunnel entrances at Paslian. The heightened security measures and reinforced entrances suggest potential military applications for the site as per Orion Intel.
Akin to Pakistan’s Kahuta nuclear site, the Khushab Nuclear Complex is not subject to inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), allowing for the unmonitored expansion of its nuclear capabilities. Paslian is possibly an underground storage facility. This definitely spells trouble for India.
According to SIPRI’s report in 2024, India’s nuclear stockpile crossed Pakistan for first time in 25 years. Report claimed that India’s nuclear weapons stockpile has exceeded Pakistan’s for the first time in 25 years, with India now estimated to possess 172 warheads compared to Pakistan’s 170. Is this why Pakistan is in a competition?

Khushab known for weapons-grade plutonium
Khushab houses four heavy water nuclear reactors dedicated to the production of plutonium for nuclear weapons. These reactors have been built sequentially over nearly three decades, with the latest reactor completed in 2011. Senior Pakistani officias have themselves confirmed that the site concentrates on Tac-nukes or tactical weapons. As per reports the purpose of the plutonium produced in the reactors at Khushab is to build smaller, shorter range nuclear weapons, including tactical nuclear-tipped missiles or the tac-nukes.
The facility has significantly increased Pakistan’s supply of weapons-grade plutonium. This plutonium, after separation from irradiated fuel at other sites, enables the development of miniaturized, plutonium-based nuclear weapons. These complement Pakistan’s existing arsenal of highly enriched uranium nuclear weapons.
Reports claim, in addition to the reactors, Khushab includes a heavy water production plant essential for sustaining its nuclear weapons program. The heavy water and natural uranium reactors are crucial for producing plutonium and tritium, key components in compact nuclear warheads.
The operating reactors at Khushab have capacities ranging between 40 MWth to 50 MWth, with some reports suggesting capacities as high as 70 MWth. Collectively, these reactors are estimated to produce approximately 44 kilograms (97 pounds) of weapons-grade plutonium annually.
Alongside the developments at Khushab, Pakistan is expanding its plutonium production and nuclear reprocessing facilities at other sites, including New Labs and Chashma. These efforts underscore Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing its nuclear arsenal.
The ongoing developments at Khushab, particularly the construction of the new underground facility, highlight Pakistan’s continued focus on bolstering its nuclear capabilities. The strategic significance of these facilities remains a critical aspect of Pakistan’s defense infrastructure.