Pakistan

India introduced nuclear weapons in South Asia: Pakistan

Pakistan Embassy spokesperson refutes reports that Pakistan is 'irresponsibly building its nuclear arsenal'

APP November 15, 2015

PHOTO: ISPR

NEW YORK: Pakistan has debunked a claim that it was irresponsibly building its nuclear arsenal, and called for shifting attention to India’s investment in destabilising technologies and its aggressive posturing.

“Pakistan was not the first to introduce nuclear weapons in South Asia; India was,” a spokesman for the Pakistan Embassy in Washington said in a letter published in The New York Times on Saturday.

Guarding nuclear weapons: N-security a sacred job, says army chief

The spokesman, Nadeem Hotiana, was responding to a recent editorial claiming that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal was growing ‘faster than any other country’s,’ and that ‘Persuading Pakistan to rein in its nuclear weapons programme should be an international priority.’ Hotiana said, “Recent public reports confirm that India continues to grow its nuclear programme by testing missiles with longer ranges.”

A special waiver for India for nuclear trade is another destabilising step, the letter said.

Pakistan presents danger to entire world: NYT editorial

It added that Pakistan has proposed an agreement with India on nuclear restraint, including a strategic restraint regime that could address concerns raised in the editorial.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (40)

Xenia | 8 years ago | Reply @ankur: But we will use when and where needed.

ramdar | 9 years ago | Reply @Humza: ''its people live in abject poverty'' Yes, India & east Pakistan always had much more poverty (& higher population density) than West Pakistan. Colonial exploitation of east further helped to reduce poverty in west Pakistan, till 1971. Hope, you are aware of recent trends in the subcontinent in poverty elimination, per capita income, Human development index measured by parameters like life expectancy, infant mortality, literacy.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Komal S | 9 years ago | Reply @Strange: Get used to the connected world. Don't worry 1.3 billion chinese will troll for you.

Avtar | 9 years ago | Reply If India jumps into the ocean, would Pakistan follow! Yes the Indian nuclear tests forced Pakistan to show its clandestine nukes. The only concern is people are fed propaganda with not much attention to the betterment of the masses. In India, the nuclear program is accompanied with economic development, at least now.

Jog | 9 years ago | Reply What do you mean India "introduced" nuclear weapons?!!! India is not the same as Pakistan. It has its own size and requirements in terms of defense capabilities. Accordingly, a nation of such a stature requires the weapons of the BIG BOYS. Moreover, India does not need nuclear weapons against Pakistan. So, India's nuclear weapons were never meant for Pakistan in the first place. That is the reason none of India's other neighbors have nuclear weapons either. Just because India acquires something does not mean Pakistan has to do the same. India's economy is way bigger than Pakistan. There is no way Pakistan can even remotely come close to India's defense capabilities. Stop comparing and move on!!!!

Humza | 9 years ago | Reply @Motiwala: You are mistaken. You do have to point out obvious facts. The world knows that India introduced nuclear weapons to South Asia after making the nuclear bomb It should also be remembered that India took foreign aid in the form of a Canadian gifted nuclear reactor meant for peaceful use and diverted it illegally to build bombs. Pakistan was forced to develop a deterrent but the world understand that India started the nuclear arms race and wastes more than any other country in the world on weapons while over 500 million of its people live in abject poverty without access to toilets. This does not command any respect in the world.

ashathru | 9 years ago | Reply it was your sweetest, hottest, highest, deepest iron brother brought nuclear arms race to Asia. Do you have the guts to admit that?

ramdar | 9 years ago | Reply @Strange: @Desert Rhino: Who started the wars- in 1947, 1965, 1971 & Kargil? As per independent observers & many honest Pakistanis (like Retired Air Marshal Asghar khan, Najam Sethi..) it was always Pakistani mischief. This is of course in contradiction to Pakistan government propaganda. You may continue on your disastrous nuclear path but stop blaming India for it. India had no reason to develop nuclear weapons but for Chinese attack & occupation,

Auginpk | 9 years ago | Reply Before nuclear tests of late 1990s, both the countries already had nuclear weapons. No country can make nuclear weapons in five or six days. It turned out to be good for both of us.

kamran | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan should now concentrate in space technology. India is getting much further in space. Pakistan should take concrete steps before its too late

rk singh | 9 years ago | Reply How about a rocket to Mars?

Desert Rhino | 9 years ago | Reply For the ones saying why Pakistan doesn't have a NFU(No First Use) Policy, there is a reason behind it. Nuclear first-use has deterred India from seriously considering conventional military strikes. This logic isn't rocket science at all. Indian strategists had suggested the same to their Defense ministry, if India had been a smaller military power in terms of Quantity. Time and again this policy has proved it worth, it has been years since I heard of any Indo-Pak War. If this policy was merely for aggression against India, why Pakistan hasn't used them in the first place! It has been more than 17 years now! Your comments are nice to show some Indian Patriotism but be a bit logical also.

Strange | 9 years ago | Reply Strange that all the comments are pro indian!!! you guys certainly have nothing better to do but troll on Pakistani websites and spread your venom... I guess that is your bread and butter. And for some peanut heads, Look at the historical stats what you are today Pak was ahead of you before 1990 and admittedly took a nose dive from there. Our nukes are our last line of defense and made to use against aggressor , which in the region is India only for now, and not a display item to be kept for showoff rather then used when needed. Tactical systems were in response of "Cold start" and China was not the first in the region to have them rather it was USSR, India ally of the time. It was important to mention India by name as we are in no confusion of who the closest enemy is. We will catch up with India in other areas as well and nukes are here to protect us from Indian evil designs while we pursue them.

Muneer | 9 years ago | Reply There would be no economy or the country itself if there are no nukes with Pakistan.

Dubya | 9 years ago | Reply CHINA !!!!!... rings any bells ????

Raj | 9 years ago | Reply You cannot blame india for this. When pakistan says they have done becuase, india did it, they should also understand that, india is doing this or did it because, China did it. So it is a chain and there is no substance in blaming india. Instead pakisan should have taken the stand that, they are doing this to defend their country without naming India. It should also be undersood that, india never cites china for increasing its expenditure.

Indian | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistanis were too shy to mention about who introduced nuclear weapons in Asia because their holders from their eastern borders will put them in place . So instead Asia they just used a suffix of "south" to confine the nuclear debate to India and pakistan.

Indian | 9 years ago | Reply yes yes and your bosses china were very peaceful.

TiffinBox | 9 years ago | Reply Say "Thank you".

SHR | 9 years ago | Reply Fact and medias of the world busy pointing out Pakistan, including our own media :)

Harshvardhan | 9 years ago | Reply We also introduced mangalyaan. Ever tried that dumbos?

Last Word | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan is following a dangerous doctrine both on terrorism and nuclear arsenal which are disturbing rest of the world. In backdrop of recent Paris attack and India's track record vis-a-vis Pakistan, the latter is unlikely to receive support from any quarter for its rhetorics against India. Pakistan should rather focus on its failing economy than its obsession with India who has never posed any threat to it in the past which holds good for future as well.

ali | 9 years ago | Reply Good job

jayant | 9 years ago | Reply Countries which have nothing better to do or contribute anything positive will compete with others on negative points ! India also introduced tech to reach moon , mars, to the sub continent , but why to compete on tough positive reasons. India also introduce no 1st use policy to this sub, any takers to follow that ?

Sameer | 9 years ago | Reply India is also way ahead in software, pharma, economy, space missions etc,,,,so why not competing with India is these fields also

BIMAL CHANDRA JHA | 9 years ago | Reply We should not distort history. China was the first in whole Asian block who had introduced nukes in the sub continent. Blaming India only shows anti India feeling. USA is not a child state. It fully understands the political - economic scenario of the sub continent. Blaming game on each other will not be beneficial.

ethicalman | 9 years ago | Reply India was a nuclear power from 1970's but our biggest danger was from China.. while China armed Pakistan nuclear weapons aided by Saudi oil dollars... China even gave nuclear materials to Pakistan for free..

Indialover | 9 years ago | Reply Eat nuclear Drink nuclear.. useless cry babies

Dr. Shahid Masood | 9 years ago | Reply Who are we trying to fool? Pakistani public or world? As the later knows very well the state of our economy (even B'desh doesn't take loans from IMF, in order to avoid defaults) and, the infamous ppl like A.Q.Khan who were associated with our nuclear program!

wb | 9 years ago | Reply I always attack the illogical nature of Pakistanis. Here again, I have to do that. A nuclear weapon is not a Polio virus. We possessed nuclear weapon in South Asia first. We did not introduce anything. First, learn to use proper terms. Second, India, from the very beginning had no-firstuse policy. So, Pakistan had absolutely no reason to obtain nuclear weapons. Third, we developed our own weapon. Our scientists did not back stab the companies they worked for and steal technology from Europe in suitcases. So, you can't clean your bathroom using our washing powder.

PrakashG | 9 years ago | Reply And that's a license for Pakistan to proliferate and indiscriminately stockpile?

Vicky | 9 years ago | Reply So , is it necessary to follow what India does? Fine.... India is economically doing very well, India is far ahead in space missions, IT software, medical tourism etc.... so why follow India in nukes and defence field, follow in other areas also,,,,it'll surely benefit you

Logitech | 9 years ago | Reply "But they started it!!" Please, let's all just grow up for once.

Virkaul | 9 years ago | Reply An irresponsible statement by a diplomat. chona already had nukes and pakistan did not need them in view of "Sweeter than Honey" Pak China dosti. Such statements do not help in building relations but only show obsession with India.

scientist | 9 years ago | Reply Flood in Pakistan , because of India ,terrorism in Pakistan , because of India , economic crisis in Pakistan , because of India , border tension because of India , Inflation in Pakistan became of India , Nuclear race because of India , water problem in Pakistan because of India... look Pakistanis , all basic problem is because of India , .... Get a life before its too late . Bangladesh has moved ahead of you.

Malatesh | 9 years ago | Reply Lol.. Entire world is supporting India since India adopted no first use policy which clearly indicates that india's nuclear program is only for peaceful purpose and self protection.. If Pakistan is ready for similar policy then entire world including India will support Pakistan 's nuclear program..

Nawaz | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan is making clear before COAS visit that nothing will be discussed about Pakistan nuclear program.

ankur | 9 years ago | Reply India also introduced no first use in south asia.

Motiwala | 9 years ago | Reply Good idea to issue a rebuttal. But poor strategy to mention India. No matter how passionately we believe in our cause, comparing with India makes us look much worse. India gets respect and we don't. Why not plan accordingly?

troll | 9 years ago | Reply

and called for shifting attention to India’s investment in destabilising technologies and its aggressive posturing

while we are "shifting attention", lets also shift attention to china's military build up too, which is threatening Japan, Vietnam, Philippines and other littoral countries, including India. Will Pakistanis raise this issue?

Replying to X