Space could be the new arms race with India

Ex air chief says imbalance in space capabilities with India could lead to new tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s space programme was neglected in the past as the national focus was on the nuclear programme for ensuring the country’s security. But a growing imbalance in this field could lead to new tensions in South Asia.

This was stated by former Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat on Tuesday while speaking at a round table conference on "Indian Space Programme and its global impact". The roundtable had been organised by the Arms Control and Disarmament Centre at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

Identifying the huge gap between Pakistan and India in space capabilities, he called for rigorous efforts to bridge it.

Saadat noted that the growing imbalance in space technology between the two nuclear-tipped but hostile neighbours could result in a tense South Asian region.

The former air chief said that apart from the space programme, India enjoys an edge in other sectors, including the economy. He added that the global community must realise that such gaps in different sectors between the two nuclear countries were not beneficial for world peace.

Saadat called for earmarking sufficient funds for the space programme along with the assistance of the related institutions to achieve the dream of space exploration.

“We should resort to activism in the field [of space] now,” Saddat said. The former air force official lamented that global powers are not implementing agreements on non-proliferation of arms.

“The principle-based system is coming towards an end,” he said, adding, “We need to generate funds for the programme using own resources without relying on other governments.”

As a force equaliser, Saadat suggested upgrading and repurposing existing ballistic missiles into anti-satellite missiles. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2020.