Marking the 25th anniversary of Youm-e-Takbeer, the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) Islamabad hosted a Seminar on 29 May 2023. Speakers made the point that having developed nuclear capability, Pakistan was now actually engaged in harnessing the power of nuclear energy for its socio-economic development.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi, the Executive Director of CISS, shared his insights based on his experience at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He mentioned that despite the fact that India had conducted nuclear tests in 1974, Pakistan practiced restraint till 1998. Presently, after 25 years, Pakistan has kept pace with India as deterrence has held, and Pakistan is in a position to revert back to peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Broadly talking about the South Asian strategic environment and nuclear tests in 1998, Professor Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal said that there was a disconnect between regional and international strategic environment where, the Indian domestic influence regarding Indian nuclear tests cannot be ignored. He said that even today, Pakistan is a reluctant nuclear weapon state which practices restraint and is not interested in nuclear arms race. Due to technological advances, Pakistan should also focus on non-nuclear strategic weapons. He stated that the negotiations of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) took place with the main aim to stop both Pakistan and India from testing nuclear weapons and becoming part of the exclusive nuclear weapons state club.
Dr Atia Ali Kazmi, Director Research at CISS, discussed the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and the case of Pakistan. She covered the history and importance of nuclear energy around the world, challenges and opportunities, and measures to address those challenges, particularly in Pakistan. She was of the view that the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and fusion reactors could offer more flexibility and mentioned that nuclear non-proliferation was a strong pillar of Pakistan’s nuclear program. Pakistan is also the most proactive state regarding the use of civil nuclear technology under the IAEA frameworks as all its civilian nuclear reactors are under IAEA safeguards. Dr Kazmi opined that Pakistan’s entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group is important for Pakistan, however, not at the cost of our national security and interests.
Talking about Pakistan’s presence and engagement at the IAEA, Ambassador Aftab Ahmed Khokhar said that Pakistan has three objectives at the Agency. First, the technical cooperation with IAEA; second, the visibility and achievements of Pakistan in nuclear field; and lastly, the commitment of Pakistan to a safe, secure, and safeguarded nuclear power program. He mentioned that IAEA presents Pakistan’s civil nuclear program as a model program, and Pakistan should continue to combat propaganda from within and outside Pakistan regarding nuclear issues. The Ambassador praised CISS for the think tank’s achievements in realizing this goal and that it can take this agenda to the next steps of excellence.
At the end of the discussion, CISS team marked the special day by cutting a cake.
Ali Sarwar Naqvi is Executive Director at the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad.
