New Delhi, 11 November 2016
Defence
Minister Manohar Parrikar observed that Pakistan has stopped threatening India
of Nuclear Attack after surgical strikes conducted by Indian Army in Pakistan
Occupied Kashmir. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar opens pandora’s box by his
statement on the use of Nuclear weapons, "If a written down
strategy exists or you take a stand really on a nuclear aspect, I think you are
actually giving away your strength in nuclear... nuclear concept... a lot of
people say India has a no-first-use nuclear policy, but why should I bind
myself? I should say I'm a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it
irresponsibly. This is my thinking."
However, he
clarifies that India’s nuclear policy has not changed. And this is his personal
opinion that the policy should remain unpredictable as was the case in surgical
strike.
Though it
may be his personal opinion but it coincidentally correlates with the election
manifesto of the BJP released for General Elections 2014. The manifesto
reads,“Independent Strategic Nuclear Programme” “Revise and update India’s
nuclear doctrine”, “Maintain a credible nuclear deterrent”.
However, the no
first use policy was also devised by BJP led NDA Government when India conducted
its nuclear tests in 1998. Within weeks Pakistan also conducted its own nuclear
tests.
Off late, the credible nuclear deterrence has
been eroded as Pakistan developed tactical nuclear weapons. Pakistan’s defence minister Khwaja Asif would
threaten India on every second day.
Currently
Pakistan is understood to have possessed more nuclear weapons than India. But
it is an irresponsible state. The safety
of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons has been compromised due to radical elements
present in its forces guarding the nukes. On the contrary, India never
threatened Pakistan with nuclear attack while maintaining the highest standards
of nuclear safety. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statement has come at a
time when India and Japan are about to sign a civil nuclear dear and Japan
insisting on nullification or termination clause.
Reviewed by National Defence
on
09:25:00
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