PAK will not follow the 'Not First Use' policy… Absurd statement by former military officer on the use of nuclear weapons

Clarifying Pakistan's stand on the use of nuclear weapons, a former Pakistani military official said that Pakistan does not follow a "no first use" policy on nuclear weapons and the country's deterrent capabilities can respond to all threats from the enemy.

A former senior military officer of Pakistan has made a big statement regarding the use of nuclear weapons. The former military officer clarified Pakistan's stand on the use of nuclear weapons and said that Pakistan does not follow a "no first use" policy on nuclear weapons and the country's deterrent capabilities can respond to all threats from the enemy.

Lieutenant General (retired) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, Advisor to the National Command Authority, said this during a seminar organised at the Centre for International Strategic Studies (CISS) to mark the 26th anniversary of Pakistan's nuclear tests in 1998, Youm-e-Takbir.

Khalid Ahmad Kidwai, who has served as director general of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD), said Pakistan does not have a no first use policy and I repeat it for emphasis. Pakistan does not have a no first use policy.

Pakistan's big statement on nuclear policy

Let us tell you that 'no first use' reflects the stance of a country and is considered an assurance that its nuclear arsenal is not for fighting a nuclear war but for deterrence. Islamabad has traditionally maintained ambiguity about its NFU policy.

Kidwai says the Indian impetuous leadership might like to think that there should never be any doubt in anyone's mind, friend or foe, that Pakistan's operationally ready nuclear capability gives every Pakistani leader the freedom, honour and courage to look straight into India's eyes and never blink.

Kidwai said the full spectrum deterrence capabilities available with the Pakistan Army are a combination of conventional and most modern technology-based weapons, capable of responding to all threats from the enemy. He said full spectrum deterrence helped restore the strategic balance of power that enforced peace in the region. Over the past few decades, Pakistan's strong nuclear capability has enforced peace in the region.

Pakistan conducted six nuclear tests in 1998

Pakistan conducted six nuclear tests inside a deep tunnel in the remote Chaghi Mountains of Balochistan province on May 28, 1998, in response to nuclear tests conducted by India at the Indian Army's Pokhran Test Range the same month.

General Kidwai also hinted at using emerging technologies to strengthen the country's nuclear programme. He said advancements in technology, including emerging technologies, will continue to find their way into Pakistan's national security calculus and taking advantage of these will strengthen the nuclear programme.

He said nuclear weapons were housed with the Army Strategic Forces Command on land, the Naval Strategic Forces Command at sea and the Air Force Strategic Forces Command in the air. Lt Gen Kidwai further said India's dynamic response strategy (DRS) is a clear reflection of the limitations and constraints imposed by Pakistan's robust nuclear capability on India's strategic and operational options.