Pakistan has always prioritised its military power over its economy and politics. For Islamabad, maintaining strong Armed Forces is more important than performing administrative duties. In other words, Pakistan relies more on a strong military than a proper Government to run the country. As expected, the main target of the Pakistani Armed Forces is certainly India. Pakistan often comes out with various military plans against the neighbouring country. Speaking at an event, a retired Lieutenant General of the Pak Army recently admitted this fact.

A function was organised at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad in May 2023 to mark the 25th anniversary of Pakistan’s first successful nuclear test. Speaking at the event, Lieutenant General (Retired) Khalid Kidwai talked about the long-term nuclear policy of his country. He said that Pakistan was ready for three-pronged resistance against India on land, water and air. According to Lieutenant General (Retired) Kidwai, Pakistan considers nuclear weapon as one of its most important weapons against India, as it has nuclear weapons that can be used in land, water and air combat. While the Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC) is ready to deter India with nuclear weapons on the land, the Naval Strategic Force Command (NSFC) shall deter India on water, and the Air Force Strategic Command (AFSC) in the air. Lieutenant General (Retired) Kidwai told the audience that his country was fully prepared to mount all possible resistance against India, both strategically and operationally. In each case, the Government of Pakistan is emphasising on nuclear weapons.

Defence experts are of the opinion that Pakistan is trying to use a nuclear umbrella in order to provoke terrorism against India. Islamabad made some changes in its military strategy in recent times. Experts believe that the Pak Army may place nuclear landmines along its borders with India on the basis of a zero-range strategy. However, all these are still at the stage of possibility. Usually, Pakistan does not make its nuclear plans public, and its nuclear activities have always been shrouded in mystery. Keeping its nuclear research-related progress a secret, Islamabad has always highlighted its missile tests. This is a part of its defence strategy.

Pakistan boosted its nuclear activities in 2019 after India reportedly carried out airstrikes in Balakot to destroy a major terror training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Pakistan had started developing nuclear weapons in the 1970-80s when the erstwhile Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Neither India nor the Western World wanted the South Asian nation to become a nuclear power. However, the US had to rely on neighbouring Pakistan to stop the Soviet after the invasion of Afghanistan. Pakistan used that opportunity to successfully test nuclear bombs in 1998.

However, questions arise as to whether Pakistan can successfully implement its defence strategies against India. Islamabad cannot use nuclear weapons, if it wants to maintain cordial ties with the global community. No matter how strong the Pak Army is, they have not won any war against India so far. Hence, Pakistan is depending on terror outfits to destabilise India. Terrorists have been assured that they would be protected by nuclear weapons. Only time can tell how effective Pakistan’s strategy of sponsoring terrorism and using nuclear weapons shall be against India.

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das