SOURCE: Aakar Patel / FOR MY TAKE / IDRW.ORG
The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) a daily published in Sydney said in a report that while India’s 6000-tonne Arihant Nuclear submarine is all set for Induction into Indian Navy which will push India into Elite Countries who posses Nuclear Blastic missile Submarine clearly aimed at Countering China’s growing influence in Indian ocean Region, Bejing will be forced to respond to India’s New Submarine by adding Pakistan submarine program .
Arihant Nuclear submarine deployment would complete India’s nuclear triad, allowing it to deliver atomic weapons from land, sea and air. Only the US and Russia are considered full-fledged nuclear triad powers now, with China and India’s capabilities still largely untested.
While Both India and China espouse a no-first-use policy on nuclear arms but Arihant will also act as a deterrence against an outbreak of war by discouraging enemies from attacking. Ballistic-missile submarines are considered to have played such a deterrent role in the Cold War.
Pakistan for long has been trying to acquire weapons systems which will allow it to establish second strike capability against arch rivals India. It’s known fact that Pakistan can ill afford Nuclear submarines in its arsenal but China might provide its assistance in providing Conventional under sea capabilities which can deliver nuclear warheads.
Pakistan with China has finalized its long-negotiated Conventional submarine deal which likely can be armed with Cruise missiles which capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, thus completing Pakistan Nuclear Triad.
Export version of the Type 039A, the S20, is believed to be air-independent propulsion (AIP) capable submarine and should the Pakistanis opt for this capability it would give them greater operational flexibility through increased endurance. Pakistan is developing its Babur Cruise missile into a Submarine launched Cruise missile variant which will allow it to hit targets inside India with Nuclear weapons.