Pakistan's nuclear posturing continues to raise serious security concerns: Report
New Delhi, July 12
Pakistan remains a deeply volatile nuclear power, with its "First Use" doctrine and military-dominated command structure contributing to an increasingly precarious security environment, according to a report.
Pakistan's nuclear posture rejects the No First Use (NFU) doctrine, showing a possibility that Islamabad launches a nuclear strike first in a conflict scenario, a report by Fair Observer noted, citing a former senior military official.
"The country's nuclear arsenal is intended to respond to all forms of perceived threats from an adversary. Its strategy is guided by full-spectrum deterrence, explicitly aimed at countering India across every level of conflict - strategic, operational and tactical. Former Pakistani military strategist Khalid Ahmed Kidwai said the doctrine was designed to ensure full coverage of the Indian landmass and (India would have) 'no place to hide'," the report said.
The Constitutional Amendment of 2025 places control of Pakistan's nuclear operations with the Chief of Defence Forces, which dramatically expands military power.
"This reform makes Pakistan the only nuclear-armed state where authority over nuclear use is entrusted to one military officer," the report highlighted.
According to it, international concern was sparked over Pakistan engaging in the development of Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs), lowering the nuclear threshold.
"Analysts warn that their deployment in conventional military conflicts significantly increases the risk of a 'use it or lose it' dilemma and unauthorised launch by lower-level commanders, raising the likelihood of a full-scale nuclear war," the report emphasised.
The report says that Pakistan also has a dangerous legacy of nuclear proliferation. Islamabad started developing a nuclear bomb in the 1970s after Abdul Qadeer Khan "stole classified information, sensitive centrifuge technology and nuclear blueprints while working as a subcontractor for URENCO in the Netherlands".
According to the report, he established a network with private suppliers for nuclear and missile-related technologies.
"By the 1990s, Khan had operationalised the world's most dangerous nuclear black market, fueling the secret ambitions of Iran, North Korea, and Libya while even making overtures to Iraq. His network provided Tehran with critical P-1 and P-2 centrifuges, along with the designs, and traded enrichment hardware and centrifuges with Pyongyang. In Libya, Khan's network attempted to export a turnkey nuclear programme involving weapons designs and over a million components," the report detailed.
After confessing the transfer of nuclear technology to Iran, Libya, and North Korea in 2004, Khan was pardoned by then Pakistani President Parvez Musharraf.
"Multiple international analysts and non-proliferation experts have argued that Khan's global nuclear trafficking network could not have operated for decades without at least tacit support or knowledge from elements within Pakistan's military and intelligence establishment... One such report claimed that many Pakistanis believed Khan had taken the blame to shield the wider establishment, particularly the military," noted the report by Fair Observer.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's frightening how AQ Khan's network operated for decades with military knowledge. And he was pardoned like it was nothing 😠 This just proves that nuclear non-proliferation efforts need to focus more on state-sponsored networks, not just individual actors. India should push for stronger international scrutiny of Pakistan's nuclear program at every forum.
Pakistan's first-use doctrine and tactical nukes are a dangerous combination. The report highlights exactly what security analysts have been warning about for years - the risk of miscalculation in a conventional conflict leading to nuclear escalation is real and high. India's no-first-use policy is morally and strategically sound, but we must keep our guard up. 🚨
Reading this as an international observer, it's alarming how Pakistan has been able to maintain its nuclear arsenal with such risky policies while facing minimal consequences from the global community. The AQ Khan network should have led to much stricter sanctions and oversight. India's responsible approach should be commended, and the world needs to hold Pakistan accountable.
I think we need to be careful not to panic unnecessarily. Yes, Pakistan's doctrine is concerning, but India has strong deterrence and a robust response mechanism. Our forces are well-prepared for any scenario. That said, diplomacy should also continue - stability in the region benefits everyone. The focus should be on confidence-building measures and transparent communication channels between the two countries' military commands.
The tactical nuclear weapons development is the most worrying part. Lowering the nuclear threshold means a
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.