A traumatic scene opens up. From a silent abettor of Pakistan's nuclear strivings in the eighties and early nineties, American policy-making has made a sharp u-turn. It has become jittery over the fate of the Pakistani nuclear stockpile and wants to position itself in the role of a policeman watching over Pakistan's nuclear weapon facility. Why has this happened - what has brought about this sharp juxtaposition? Most important of all is the question: can the US force itself on Pakistan in this role of a nuclear policeman? We have here the proverbial riddle wrapped in an enigma.