Deterrence Capability of Pakistan.

Byline: Nadir Ali

Pakistan is the unsung and misunderstood hero in the quest for peace in South Asia and beyond. A careful and unbiased look at the security environment in South Asia will show that the causes of crises and conflicts are particularly ignored - an over-focus on the impact, this selective and discriminatory focus does not contribute to peace and security; some of the recent developments and trends pose serious threats to strategic stability globally and in South Asia. The development and acquisition of missile defense capabilities-nuclearization and space militarization of the Indian Ocean region will be a major trend in strategic and deterrence stabilization. Moreover, recently our neighbors have virtually tried to dramatically alter the strategic landscape through two actions. First, carrying out its deterrence patrol in the Indian Ocean region by "INS Arihant" - implies the first ready-to-use nuclear weapons and sea by nuclear arms submarine in South Asia.

It effectively means that the threat of nuclear weapons no longer remains confined to the land territory of South Asia. It has challenged the security and stability of the entire Indian Ocean region's littoral states. Secondly, dropping the minimum from the credible minimum posture in our neighborhood - neither surprise us nor threatens us. In fact, Pakistan will continue to provide the necessary response to ensure the strategic balance is maintained and Pakistan's deterrence remains credible in absolute terms. On the other side, Pakistan's credible minimum balance will show that its deterrent strategy is based on a stance toward preserving peace and stability in South Asia: "let's call a spade a spade, but let's move beyond spades and soars to modernism, sensibility, and common sense." In order to sustain regional peace and stability, Pakistan is determined to maintain a credible minimum deterrence against the whole range of changing strategic threats. However, those big powers that are granting the area access to extremely cutting-edge technology are indirectly promoting the vertical spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and escalating the dangers to global and regional peace, security, and stability. In fact, the development of the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), massive production of fissile material, and unilateral acquisition of a variety of high technologies, as well as offensive cyber and non-kinetic capabilities, further heighten the danger to...