Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal
Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal is Associate Professor at the School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. He specializes in nuclear matters.
DOI: http://DOI Number
Keywords: Nuclear decision making, Pakistan, parliament, doctrine, India, threat perception, strategic thinking, nuclear programme, military
Abstract
Although Pakistan has not publicly proclaimed its nuclear philosophy as of yet, certain key tenets are common knowledge and can hardly be disputed. The critical scrutiny of nuclear decision-making in Pakistan is facilitated by the steady development of both the political system and political culture. The strategic community in Pakistan was caught off guard by the “no threat from India” and “no first use” declarations. Pakistan has insisted from the beginning that its nuclear arsenal is designed to target only India. Therefore, they would prevent conventional or nuclear aggression. Islamabad rejected the “no first-use” notion for the simple reason that its defence doctrine is predicated on the possible use of nuclear weapons to prevent New Delhi from using its conventional supremacy against Pakistan. Pakistani citizens are extremely worried about Indian nuclear aggression, and they believe their country would be defenceless against Indian aggression if it did not have a credible nuclear deterrent. It keeps a careful eye on the nuclear industry. This research focuses on the factors that have shaped Pakistan’s strategic outlook and culture. Afterwards, we’ll discuss about how Pakistan’s nuclear policy has changed over time.
First Published
March 25, 2012
How to Cite
Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, “Evolution of Pakistan’s Nuclear Programme: Debates in Decision-Making,” Regional Studies 30, no.2 (Spring 2012): 3-38, https://regionalstudies.com.pk/wp/article/evolution-of-pakistans-nuclear-programme-debates-in-decision-making/
Issue
Volume 30, Issue 2