Whenever headlines start getting old and boring for the scholar’s international community starts mimicking conspiracy theories against Pakistan’s nuclear program. It appears to be a new customary and mysterious show of from Israeli retired military officer. This article is written with reference to the article titled “Pakistani Nuclear Threat” by Lt. Col. (Res.) Dr. Rafael Ofek published in Israel defence. Since its inception Pakistan has been under intense pressure for its nuclear program which serves a defensive purpose. While the Indians who are a source of instability for the peace of South Asian region and Israeli’s who have never accepted never denied of their nuclear capability is a source of instability for Middle East region but yet remain unconcerned. I wonder why Pakistan nuclear programme is always been labeled as an ‘Islamic Bomb’. One has never heard of the Israeli bomb being called a ‘Jewish Bomb’, or the Indian bomb a ‘Hindu Bomb’, or the American bomb a ‘Christian Bomb’ or the Soviet bomb a ‘Communist Bomb’. I wonder now why it is unsettling for Israel to see a nuclear armed Pakistan.
It’s hard to prove in black and white. Competing accounts have made it difficult for outsiders to obtain a comprehensive picture of the country’s nuclear-weapons programme. Israel’s nuclear posture is the most unique in the world, in a sense that Israel has neither accepted nor denied the acquisition of nuclear power. This policy of ‘nuclear ambiguity’ has raised a great deal of controversy regarding Israel’s nuclear programme worldwide. Israel’s aggressive posture towards the Arab world has instilled the Israel’s nuclear threat in the Arab world in case of any intense conflict in the future. Has not the threat of a nuclear Iran brought home to the Israelis the message about the failure of opacity to deter its enemies from challenging its very existence? Has opacity then outlived its usefulness?
Unfortunately, Pakistan does not enjoy privileges like Israel and despite that no nuclear weapons state can get a clean chit for nuclear proliferation or safety and security issues, only Pakistan is singled out and subjected to criticism. Also nuclear threat from Iran can no longer be prevented until and unless International community plays a fair role towards the nuclear assets of Israel.
Israel and India missed no opportunity to malign Pakistan`s programme. Security perspective is always ignored by its western friends and now Israel came up with a conspiracy theory fearing of Pakistan nuclear assets. Instead of maligning Pakistan nuclear posture, one needs to see its own behavior towards nuclear norms and regulations. Israel nuclear assets are estimated to be varying between 75 and 400 nuclear warheads, with most estimates at less than 200 warheads. It is also estimated that Israel has the ability to deliver them by intercontinental ballistic missile Jericho III, aircraft and submarine and yet making mount speculations against Pakistan nuclear assets.
Pakistan being a nuclear state has never instigated instability in the region. Whereas Israel did for the Middle East region for disrupting peace and igniting nuclear race. Iran is already following the pursuit.
Regarding the security of nuclear assets Pakistan military is a match of its own and no one can overlook its capability for ensuring security paradigms around its nuclear assets (Pakistan says that that is being done by SPD’s security force and not Army). Israel`s apprehension of Pakistan`s military prowess is rooted in the strength Pakistan indirectly provides to Arab states with whom Israel has remained in a state of conflict. Pakistan has determinedly thwarted the terrorist threat and foiled this grand conspiracy. Pakistan has made it clear that it would act decisively against any attempt by any quarter to harm its nuclear assets so such conspiracies stand no-where. Our nuclear security regime is anchored in the principle of multilayered defense for the entire spectrum of any nuclear security threat – insider, outsider, and cyber threats – and is guided by the concept of the Five Ds, that is, to deter, detect, delay, defend, and destroy. We have established extensive physical protection measures, robust Command and Control structures, comprehensive export controls and an effective regulatory regime to ensure safety and security of nuclear materials and installations.