Guys the pak nukes falling into the hands of Taliban is a good propaganda tool to keep pressure up on pakistan. I have reliably learned that all pak nukes are under twin watch of US and China and both will not want Pak to use it. Chinas sole aim to supply nukes to pak was to keep india under pressure. I really doubt they would want Pak to ever use it.
Its not just for propaganda (which is Indian perspective) but a reality that is soon coming closer to happening. I might sound like a paranoid American but being Indians, we have all the more reason to be worried since we're right next door and since Pakistani military and ISI already are in bed with Taliban, it is almost impossible to make out who will come forward with the weapon. Pak has been known for its lies as a nuclear strike or even a chemical or biological strike is possible by terrorists to weaken a city through diseases and injuries. Our response to any NBC attack is standard: nuclear response. This means that Pakistan is likely to say that "hey look we tried to stop them, but they got out of control". What'd be the use since damage would be already done? Hence we must up the ante by force-feeding NATO's paranoia of Jihad as well as Russia's own concern of radical jihadists from Chechnya accessing such sensitive weapons in a possibly-loose environment in Pakistan.
If you think that Chinese or Americans care so much about us, you're wrong. They never would bother. A nuke (goodness forbid) strike on any city of ours from Pakistan is on the other hand, good for them as it will show an alarmed India according to Chinese strategic analysis. And even if Pakistan is annihilated in our retaliation, it would still do little damage to China (except a couple of billions that it has infrastructurally invested in Pakistan and POK).
During Kargil the Americans caught pak thought itself in the bud let alone ready its arsenal. That is the hold the US has and more so now.
Clinton wanted to increase engagement with India and also since media covered this war more extensively US had no place to turn a deaf ear to as whole world expected a response; especially after George Fernandes threatened Pakistan's existence saying that it would be erased "5 times and over" in response to Musharaf's tacit nuclear threat. Clinton knew that India then being under a right-wing nationalist NDA government would not hesitate to exterminate Pakistan and US would be in no condition to save its pet dog this time (How I miss NDA's assertive ferocity that silenced both our neighbours
). Hence, by scolding them into silence and withdrawal, he only saved Pakistan's existence. Not a favour to us but a lease of life for them.
Personally Pakistans nuke doctrine is as ambiguous as it can get. They can change their goal post any time. Perhaps to keep india honest. But I also feel that it is a bluff in the end. They will never use their nukes in a war with india. Its a matter of time when someone here calls the bluff.
If this was 70s or even 80s, I would have agreed with you. But now distinguishing who's who from that "they" is very difficult as terrorists and Pak military can be used alternatively in our case. One blesses the other with tools and the other does it. So it is not so easy to sit back on the armchair and be convinced. Remember that Pakistan was more pro-Western and still its military had some Western modern thinking despite its underlying Jihadist mentality during cold war. But now it is overtly Talibanized and day by day, Pakistani civilians are getting infected with this bug of violence and terrorism; making only more soldiers for terrorists to use against us. And since they won't be able to conventionally withstand against us, "nuking the Kuffar" will be the first thing in the minds of Taliban mullas.
