In a viral video that’s blowing up online, former CIA officer John Kiriakou made a bold claim: Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are not fully in Pakistani hands. According to him, they’re under the control of an American general, approved by the Pakistani government itself.
That’s not a small deal. If true, this changes how we look at South Asia’s nuclear balance — and India’s own strategy with its western neighbor.
India Held Back Because of the US?
Kiriakou didn’t stop there. He said this US control over Pakistan’s nukes has reduced the nuclear risk in the region. In fact, he suggested this might be the reason India hasn’t escalated military pressure on Pakistan in recent years — not fear, but caution, knowing a US hand is in the mix.
This claim is especially explosive considering fresh reports of Operation Sindoor, an Indian missile strike that was never officially confirmed until now.
BrahMos Strike on Pakistan’s Nuclear Backyard
Rana Sanaullah, a top aide to Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif, confirmed something that was long rumored: India’s BrahMos missile hit the Nur Khan airbase, near Islamabad.
This wasn’t just any base. It’s a high-security Pakistan Air Force zone — and barely a mile away from the country’s nuclear nerve centre, the Strategic Plans Division.
India’s strike reportedly threw Pakistan into chaos. Officials weren’t sure if the missile had a nuclear warhead. Satellite images now show damaged runways, radar systems, and hangars. This wasn’t a warning shot. It was a direct message.
Read more Before-After Satellite Pics: How India Erased Pak Terror Camps and Airfields in 25 Minutes
Who is John Kiriakou?
If you’re wondering whether this guy is for real, yes — and no. Kiriakou is the same former CIA officer who exposed the agency’s use of torture (like waterboarding) in 2007. He later served 2.5 years in prison for leaking classified info.
So, he’s no angel — but he’s not a nobody either. He’s known for telling truths people don’t want to hear.
