Shasma Ashfaq
It was on 28 May 1998, when Pakistan entered the list of nuclear states after carrying out 5 overt nuclear tests in a direct and straight response to Indian nuclear tests carried out just two weeks prior to Pakistan’s nuclear test. Due to this perceptible event, Pakistan became a target of international community and since then continues to be criticized heavily by many countries especially US and India.
It became customary to put into question Pakistan’s nuclear weapons safety and security. Fears are often expressed regarding Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals being ‘hijacked’ by extremists as a result of so-called increased radicalization of the Pakistan Army, given attacks on army installations in the recent years. Pakistan, however, has always rejected such fears regarding its nuclear weapons as “misplaced and unfounded” clarifying that it has very robust, multilayered command and control system.
The security measures in Pakistan are being followed since 50s. In 1964, Pakistan Nuclear Safety Committee (PNS) was constituted, in 1970 a Nuclear Safety and Licensing Division was formed. In 2001, Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) was established to ensure safeguards and regularizations of nuclear facilities. In Pakistan so far 13 regulations in connection to nuclear programme were developed that are at par with international standards and to the IAEA safety standards. For over 30 years, Pakistan has enjoyed an excellent operational and safety record of its two nuclear power plants, KANUPP and CHASNUPP, which both operate under IAEA safeguards.
Since 2000, the nation’s key nuclear institutions have been under the unified control of the National Command Authority (NCA) and the weapons are under strict control of the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). In short, Pakistan nuclear facilities and weapons are safe of any possible tsunami, by all means.
Pakistan fully realizes its responsibilities towards global community and that why accords highest level of importance to the safety and security of its nukes. It has successfully established a strong safety culture in its nuclear activities and diligently adhering to the principles of the Nuclear Safety Convention, which Pakistan signed at the time of its inception. The safeguard and security that the country ensured for its nuclear programme are significant. Pakistan is confident of its nuclear safeguards but remains persistent and never complacent about its nuclear safety, therefore, is continues to review its security measures in this connection. Having said that, it must be remembered by all that Pakistan’s nuclear assets are vital for its strategic deterrence posture so there is no question of their falling into the wrong hands.
Nuclear weapons do pose threat to humanity but Pakistan’s motivation to acquire nuclear weapons is its need to survive in the most hostile environment. Its the nuclear weapons programme that saved Pakistan from a Libya or Iraq-style invasion by western forces after 9/11. Not only this, the nuclear weapons have been instrumental in successfully saving subcontinent from becoming the ‘most dangerous place in the world’. The nuclear weapons have created strong incentives for caution in New Delhi and Islamabad by threatening to make the Pakistan-India war catastrophically costly.
Every nation weak or powerful has the right to its defence in today’s nuclearised environment. The cold war ended nearly 20 years ago and there are no disputes between P5 states about borders and territory. The communist crusade is a thing of past and there will be no wars of civilizations. It is paradoxical that in this situation the military expenses in the world continue to grow. If the world’s sole super power does not feel safer with what all the sophistication and advancement of technology to safeguard its sovereignty how the developing, poor and vulnerable nations can guarantee their survival?
Pakistan went nuclear to ensure its survival against eminent threats emerging from nuclear India and the catastrophic failure of US foreign policy in south Asia. It sees its nuclear weapons as a means of insulating the country against the dangers of hostile intentions from across the border. Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is secure because it recognizes the hazards of those weapons falling into the wrong hands. So the specter of radical Islamists taking over and brandishing the Islamic bomb is rather far-fetched.
On 28th May while Paksiatnis celebrates Youm-e-Takbeer with a pledge to defend the country against any aggression; they also send a message to the world to understand that Pakistan’s nuclear programme works as a hedge against strategic threats to our security, precisely.
