Press Release
“Emerging Technologies will make their way appropriately in Pakistan’s national security calculus and make Pakistan’s nuclear program much richer and stronger.”– says Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (R), Former DG SPD
Advisor National Command Authority (NCA) and former Director General of Strategic Plans Division (SPD) Lieutenant General (R) Khalid Ahmed Kidwai reiterated that emerging technologies will make their way appropriately in Pakistan’s national security calculus and Pakistan’s nuclear program will be much richer and stronger by benefitting from these technologies during his address as the chief guest at the seminar on “Commemorating Youm-e-Takbeer 2024” hosted by the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS), Islamabad. The event, reflecting on the historical, political, scientific, and social implications of 28th May, drew notable statesmen, think tank professionals, academics, foreign policy experts, former diplomats, and university students. The speakers included Lt. Gen. (Retd) Khalid Ahmad Kidwai, former Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) Dr. Ansar Parvez, and Director General of the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs (ACDA) Branch of SPD Brig. (Retd) Zahir Kazmi. The seminar was also attended online by the research team of Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC) Lahore, BTTN Quetta, CISS AJK Muzaffarabad, CISS Karachi, CISS Gilgit at Karakoram International University Gilgit-Baltistan and other think tanks outside Islamabad.
Gen. Kidwai noted that Pakistan’s Full Spectrum Deterrence (FSD) capability, while generally remaining within the larger philosophy of Credible Minimum Deterrence (CMD), comprises horizontally of a robust tri-services inventory of variety of nuclear weapons. It is held on land with the Army Strategic Force Command (ASFC), at sea with Naval Strategic Force Command (NSFC), and in the air with Air Force Strategic Force Command (AFSC). Vertically, the nuclear spectrum encapsulates progressively increasing destructive weapon yields, and range coverage at three: strategic, operational, and tactical all the way to 2750 kms to cover India’s vast Eastern and Southern geographical dimensions, including its outlying territories.
Gen Kidwai further stated that India’s Dynamic Response Strategy (DRS) is a clear reflection of the limits and constraints imposed by Pakistan’s robust nuclear capability on the India’s strategic and operational options, and therefore, Pakistan’s strategic weapons especially the Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs) are “weapon of Peace.” In the end, he reiterated that Pakistan does not have a No First Use (NFU) Policy.
CISS Executive Director Ambassador Ali Sarwar highlighted the historical aspect of Pakistan’s nuclear journey. He explained that Pakistan’s nuclear journey began not as a classified security program but, was initially aimed at socio-economic development, benefiting from the U.S. initiative on Atoms for Peace. This initiative provided Pakistani scientists and engineers with opportunities to acquire knowledge in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy at Western centers of learning. However, following the 1971 war, Pakistan recognized India as an existential threat, prompting the start of its own classified nuclear program. Although Pakistan had developed nuclear capability much earlier, it exercised restraint until India’s nuclear tests on May 11, 1998. In response, Pakistan conducted its tests on May 28 and May 30, 1998. Today, Pakistan also aims to revert to its broader, original objective of developing a peaceful nuclear program, alongside its military program.
Dr. Ansar Parvez emphasized the role of nuclear technology in supporting energy, healthcare, and agriculture sectors of the country. He noted that Pakistan is among the 12 countries globally that operate six or more Nuclear Power Plants, which contribute significantly to the national electricity grid. The Nuclear Power Vision 2050, approved by the NCA, aims to add more than 40,000 Megawatts of electricity to the national grid by 2050 – helping to meet the country’s electricity needs affordably and effectively. Dr. Parvez highlighted that PAEC is successfully operating 19 Atomic Energy Cancer Hospitals (AECHs) across Pakistan, serving over four million new patients annually. The advancements made by Pakistani scientists in the nuclear energy field have revolutionized Pakistan’s agricultural sector by exponentially increasing crop yields. Collectively, these peaceful uses of nuclear energy contribute to achieving national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Brig. (Retd) Zahir Kazmi highlighted some of the emerging threats and enduring threats to Pakistan’s nuclear program. Emerging threats included emerging technologies, geopolitical environment, and hybridity of warfare, while enduring threats included India’s risky behavior, sanctions on Pakistan, and information warfare.
