Nuke acquisition helped achieve deterrence

Speaker advise Pakistan to carefully assess US-China tensions

ISLAMABAD: The acquisition of nuclear weapons has helped achieve some parity between the hostile neighbours Pakistan and India. However, both nations can still learn a lot from history on the kind of posture they need to maintain.

This was stated by experts during a webinar on “Nuclear South Asia: Challenges and Opportunities” to commemorate the anniversary of the 1998 nuclear tests.

The webinar was hosted by the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) SPD Advisor Ambassador (retired) Zamir Akram discussed some of the lessons that could be learnt from the Cold War between the two former Super Powers, the US and USSR.

He also deliberated on the prospects of arms control and confidence-building measures (CBMs) between global powers, and its impact on other nuclear states.

CASS Director Dr Adil Sultan highlighted major drivers for both India and Pakistan that led to the nuclearisation of the region.

Highlighting the role of nuclear weapons in Pakistan’s security calculus, Dr Sultan stated that India’s continued force modernization could lead to instability in the region.

Sitara Noor, a senior research associate at CASS, highlighted the role of nuclear technology in the socio-economic development of the country.

Later, CASS President  Kaleem Saadat stated that without acquiring nuclear capability, Pakistan would have been in a very difficult position, especially given the discriminatory trends and the unwillingness of the global powers to adhere to a rule-based international order.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2020.