Khafee
BANNED
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2015
- Messages
- 7,681
- Reaction score
- 63
- Country
- Location
India’s bid for ‘second strike capability’ to put pressure on Pakistan, says SPD official
THE NEWSPAPER'S STAFF REPORTER —
ISLAMABAD: Indian moves towards ‘second strike capability’ would compel Pakistan to follow suit, says an official of Strategic Plans Division (SPD), which serves as the secretariat of National Command Authority.
“Development of second strike capability … would put pressure on Pakistan to take remedial measures and develop its own version of the capability,” the official said while speaking at a round-table discussion on ‘Growing Challenges to Strategic Stability in South Asia’ organised by the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS).
The reported successful testing of nuclear-capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) by India last month from its nuclear-powered INS Arihant has taken India closer to what is described as second-strike capability” in nuclear deterrence.
The second strike provides a military the capability to hit back at an enemy in a situation where its land-based nuclear arsenal had been neutralised.
Suggesting that Pakistan could have already moved in that direction, the SPD official, who was speaking at the CISS, recalled that Pakistan set up its Naval Strategic Force Command (NSFC) in 2012.
At the time of the commissioning of NSFC Headquarters, the Inter-Services Public Relations said that it “will perform a pivotal role in development and employment of the Naval Strategic Force. The Force, which is the custodian of the nation’s 2nd strike capability, will strengthen Pakistan’s policy of Credible Minimum Deterrence and ensure regional stability”.
Former defence secretary retired Lt Gen Naeem Khalid Lodhi had claimed last year that Pakistan possessed second strike capability against India.
Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2016
Sir @Indus Falcon VINDICATION!!!!
I hope bird brains, can digest this, without having a coronary, or an aneurysm.