Nuclear weapons are for war with India, says Pakistan

In the backdrop of growing hostility in South Asia, Pakistan has claimed that nuclear weapons are for war with India. This statement from Pakistan comes at a time when the relationship between India and Pakistan is at a low.

Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry said, “the country has made low-yield nuclear weapons to deal with India’s cold-start doctrine that Pakistan claims was developed by Indian military for use in a possible war with the neighbouring nation.” The media in Pakistan has termed the statement as a concrete explanation by a senior Pakistan official on how the country plans to deal with India’s cold start doctrine.

Pakistan will not sign any nuclear deal with US when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif meets President Barack Obama in Washington on October 22, Mr Chaudhry emphasised. “Our nuclear programme is one dimensional: stopping Indian aggression before it happens. It is not for starting a war. It is for deterrence,” Mr Chaudhry said.

Blaming India, Mr Chaudhry elaborated on the cold-start doctrine saying that under this strategy India had already moved its cantonments close to the Pakistani border and India has also moved its conventional weapons close to Pakistan along with other vehicles and fuel supplies. Mr Chaudhry stressed on the usage of low-yield tactical weapons, which would make it difficult for India to launch a war against Pakistan while remaining under the nuclear threshold.

Speaking about Pakistan as a responsible nuclear state Mr Chaudhry cited the international recognition won for its efforts to safeguard its nuclear installations. “We have had no nuclear accidents in Pakistan. We have a very strict export control system. We are proud of our record,” he said.

“Our nuclear programme is only to deter aggression against India. That’s the long and the short of it,” Mr Chaudhry added.

Pakistan has alleged that India’s inclusion into the Nuclear Suppliers Group was due to a discriminatory policy by US and it wants the US to have a non-discriminatory approach in this matter.

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