Nuclear Pakistan wants friendly India:Rehman Malik

Islamabad : Senator Rehman Malik, Former Federal Minister for Interior, has said that Pakistan wants to have friendly relations with India but not those based on domination. In his key note address to Three-day International Conference on “Nuclear Deterrence and Emerging Dynamics in South Asia”, he emphasized that Pakistan is a responsible nuclear state and pursuing a policy of nuclear restraint, as well as credible minimum deterrence.

He said that there is complete consciousness within the country on nuclear issue and Western powersshould stop discriminatory policies against Pakistan, adding Pakistan qualifies to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and export control regimes on a non-discriminatory basis.

On the occasion, Dr. Maria Sultan, renowned Defense Analyst and Director General of SASSI University has presented a new theory named “Integrated Strategic Equivalence”. The theory, according to her, primarily reinforces the minimum credible deterrence by adding credibility to the second strike capability and through a changed military posture. “The basic assumption of that theory is to ensure that the element of surprise and technological advantage or battlefield integration of systems does not shift the balance towards the offensive or war.”, she explained.

Dr. Maria was of the view that Indian military modernization, acquisition of Ballistic Missile Defence System and huge conventional disparity compelled Pakistan to develop a weapon system that could ensure Pakistan’s territorial integrity. “We should not remain oblivious to evolving threats that mainly existential in nature”, she concluded.

Dr. Vladimir Kozin, Russian Defense Analyst, while highlighting the US-Russian and NATO experience with the tactical weapons, said that Russia does not have such ‘forward-based weapons’ near the US shores and has several times made public statements at the highest military and political level that it would not deploy such weapons near the US. “The US nuclear doctrine amended last June confirmed that the USA will retain tactical nuclear weapons on European continent indefinitely as the basis for the extended nuclear deterrence.”, he said.

Dr. Zulfiqar Khan, Head of Department of Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Dr. Adil Sultan, Director Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs, Lt. Gen Raza, former President of National Defense University and other experts also exchanged their views Nuclear Detterence. State Minister for Religious Affairs, Pir Muhammad Amin Ul Hasnat Shah, also attended the closing ceremony of the SASSI’s Three Day International Conference to distribute shields amongst speakers.