60 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 43 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 11/9/18

Pakistan alarmed at Indian nuclear submarine patrol

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   No comments
Message Abdus-Sattar Ghazali
Become a Fan
  (11 fans)

Pakistan Thursday (Nov 8) expressed concern over Indian nuclear submarine patrol.Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said on Monday (Nov 5) the INS Arihant was a "fitting response to those who indulge in nuclear blackmail".

Foreign Office Spokesperson, Dr Mohammad Faisal, said Pakistan has taken notice of a first "deterrence patrol" of an Indian nuclear submarine and subsequent "self-congratulatory messages in India."

"The development marks the first actual deployment of ready-to-fire nuclear warheads in South Asia which is a matter of concern not only for the Indian Ocean littoral states but also for the international community at large," Dr. Faisal said.

"Amid an increase in the number of nuclear weapons in our surroundings, a credible nuclear deterrence is extremely important for our country's security," Indian Prime Minister told the crew of the submarine in a speech televised nationwide. "Arihant is an open warning for the country's enemies, for the foes of peace: don't try any misadventure against India."

"The bellicose language employed by the top Indian leadership highlights the threats to strategic stability in South Asia and raises questions about responsible nuclear stewardship in India," the Foreign Office spokesperson said on Thursday.

Dr Faisal said the increased frequency of missile tests by India, aggressive posturing and deployment of nuclear weapons calls for an assessment of the non-proliferation benefits resulting from Indian membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime.

"Pakistan is committed to the objective of strategic stability in South Asia and believes that the only way forward for both countries is to agree on measures for nuclear and missile restraint," he said adding:

"At the same time no one should be in doubt about Pakistan's resolve and capabilities to meet the challenges posed by the latest developments both in the nuclear and conventional realms in South Asia."

NDTV of India said India's first nuclear ballistic missile submarine, INS Arihant, has become fully operational, completing the country's nuclear triad. With the 6,000-tonne submarine in its arsenal, India will be able to strike deep inside China's territory, which otherwise cannot be reached by short-ranged land-based missile.

Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman wrote on Twitter that India joined the elite club of countries that can design, construct and operate nuclear submarines.

Pakistan has solutions to India's ballistic missile defense system

In another development, Adviser to the National Command Authority (NCA) Lt General (retired) Khalid Kidwai said Wednesday that Pakistan has "cost effective solutions" to India's latest ballistic missile defense system and would also find a counter to its nuclear capable submarine.

Addressing a conference on 'Nuclear Deterrence and Strategic Stability in South Asia' hosted by the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI), Lt General Khalid Kidwai also said that Pakistan will remain unfazed as it has adequate response options that would disallow any disturbance of the strategic balance or strategic stability.

"The history of our strategic force development clearly indicates that Pakistan has never allowed this (strategic) balance to be disturbed to our disadvantage; we have always found effective solutions to redress induced imbalances from time to time," Gen Kidwai was quoted as saying in by Dawn newspaper.

He said Pakistan would not follow India in developing a defense system against ballistic missiles because it found little value in such systems, but would continue to seek to redress the imbalances caused by India's moves.

"Pakistan remains unfazed and as before, we have adequate response options which will disallow any disturbance of the strategic balance or strategic stability. That fundamental policy will prevail," he said.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Must Read 1   Valuable 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Abdus-Sattar Ghazali Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Author and journalist. Author of Islamic Pakistan: Illusions & Reality; Islam in the Post-Cold War Era; Islam & Modernism; Islam & Muslims in the Post-9/11 America. Currently working as free lance journalist. Executive Editor of American (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Pakistan's first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan was assassinated by America

U.S. Muslims condemn killings of American diplomats in Libya

Are we living in Orwell's 1984 Oceania surveillance state?

Saudi Air Force trainee opens fire at Naval Air Station in Florida killing 3 people

2001-2011: A decade of civil liberties' erosion in America -- Part One

2001-2011: A decade of civil liberties' erosion in America -- Part Two

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend