Amna Razzaq
Pakistan has significantly evolved its technical and procedural nuclear security operations since 1998 nuclear tests. Pakistan has a very strong and robust command and control structure. Pakistan’s command and control over its nuclear weapons is compartmentalized and includes strict operational security. NCA (National Command Authority) is responsible for employment and deployment of the nuclear force. The chairman of NCA is Prime Minister of Pakistan. The secretariat of National command Authority is SPD (Strategic Plans Divisions). The United States expressed concern on Friday over the security of Pakistan’s tactical nuclear weapons. U.S. lawmakers and even the state department have expressed concerns that Pakistan’s ongoing military operation against domestic terrorists along its border with Afghanistan, known as Operation Zarb-e-Azb, is overlooking Haqqani network targets which are baseless.
In fifteen years after overt nuclearization, Pakistan’s security record has been par excellence and even better than states where 80 years old nuns could break into top secret nuclear facilities. Unrelated security challenges like attack on Mehran or Kamra base have been quoted as major challenges to nuclear security. So Pakistan’s assessment of nuclear weapons potentially falling in the hands of religious terrorists is incorrect. It is unfortunate that the safety of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons has been subjected to baseless and unnecessary criticism since the country tested its nuclear device. A minor faction often claims that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are not safe and can fall into the hands of militants. Being a responsible nuclear state, Pakistan has developed a robust command and control mechanism over nuclear assets. The conditions of Pakistan’s nuclear materials security have improved through strengthened laws and regulations, so as to reflect the latest nuclear security guidelines by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In recent years, Pakistan has taken some strong measures, including strengthening of export control laws, improved personnel security and international nuclear security cooperation program, to bolster the security of its nuclear arsenal which has received global acclamation. And Pakistan has been the frontline state in the war on terror for last twelve years and there has not been a single nuclear security incident. But in contrast, India has witness many accidents of nuclear leakages. The IAEA reports revealed more than 40 workers had been exposed to tritium radiation in separate leaks. Similarly a report by India’s auditor general has found serious problems with safety regulations within India’s nuclear facilities. Therefore US and other’s concerns over Pakistan nuclear safety are baseless.
Owing to ally in war against terrorism, the United States decided to push ahead with the sale and delivery of eight U.S.-made F-16 Block-52 fighters to Pakistan in a deal valued at $699 million. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified U.S. lawmakers about the deal. The DSCA’s approval comes days after Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that the Obama administration should withhold such a deal due to concerns that Pakistan was insufficiently targeting militant groups hostile to the United States, specifically the Haqqani Network. U.S. legislators have a 30 day period to review and potentially block the sale. Corker’s hold on the funding could end the deal unless Pakistan manages to find an alternate way to finance the purchase. It is to remember that 40 F-16 fighters were first introduced to Pakistan’s Air Force (PAF) in the 1980s. However, due to the 1985 Pressler Amendment, the United States cancelled the sale of an additional 28 F-16s in 1990 and imposed sanctions on Pakistan because of its burgeoning nuclear weapons program. However the deal has drawn concern and criticism from the Indian government, which is increasingly partnering with the United States itself on defense cooperation. The approval prompted India to summon American ambassador Richard Verma to lodge its strong protest against the move.
Indian government have shown reservation on the deal and argued that that the F-16 aircraft will be diverted away from counter-terrorism purposes and toward striking India in any future skirmish between the two countries. It’s shocking to hear that only 8 additional aircraft will alter the military balance in South Asia. Some credible sources stated that India have 800+ fighter aircrafts while Pakistan only have 250+Plus Indian military and their weapons and all other military stuff is more in number as compared to Pakistan. Almost triple army. And still she is lobbying against 8 aircrafts which is pretty much ridiculous. Why doesn’t Pakistan raise concerns/ “express displeasure” whenever India strikes a purchase deal for armaments? Most of these armaments procured by India are Pakistan specific and will be used against Pakistan. India already is one of the biggest purchasers/ procurers of armaments in the world and USA is only too happy to oblige. India has already received roughly 4,914 tons of uranium from France, Russia, and Kazakhstan, for example, and it has agreements with Canada, Mongolia, Argentina, and Namibia for additional shipments. In September 2014, then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott signed an agreement to make Australia a “long-term, reliable supplier of uranium to India” – a deal that has sparked considerable controversy at home. Also Russia is building six N-Power Units in Iran and India, Russia definitely wants to counter the influence of Pakistan in Afghanistan and Central Asia. Hence it is India who is triggering arms race in the region so she need not to worry about this latest deal and her protest over F-16 deal is baseless and ill-intentioned. Every country has the right to defend its frontiers. Be it India or Pakistan or even Nazi Germany. India has 250 Su-30mkis and 110 MiG-29s and 50 Mirage-2ks but i have never heard Pakistan expressing its disappointment to France or Russia, India should not get angry. When India ordered the MMRCA competition Pakistan didn’t feel any danger. If you want to be the leading country in the region then please act like a mature state, not like one in which you pay Terrorists to disrupt us and then don’t let us buy weapons to kill them too. Talking to a news channel, he said India was engaged in big arms deals with the United States and Russia, but making hue and cry over purchase of F-16 jets, which is unfortunate. As far as strategic balance in South Asia is concerned, it is pivotal for regional peace, Aziz India has inked big arms deals with the United States, Russia, and other countries but it is making hue and cry over F-16 jets deal between the US and Pakistan which is ironic. Indian objections and displeasure is nothing contrary to expectation.
