Pak's increasing nuclear arsenal indicates change in country's nuclear deterrence policy

Recent developments in Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and missile capabilities point towards a change in its nuclear deterrence policy, said Sadia Tasleem, lecturer at the department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.

According to Dawn, Tasleem was speaking at a talk on 'Contemporary security landscape and the perils of nuclear competition in South Asia - is there a way out for Pakistan?' on Wednesday organised by the department of International Relations, University of Karachi.

She said that there was no denying that Pakistan has one of the fastest growing nuclear arsenals and that security policy-makers strongly feel that they cannot afford to cap Pakistan's nuclear ability.

She said that the country publicly adhered to minimum credible deterrence [or no-first-use of nuclear weapons] to placate international forces.

However, statements by ISPR were proof of the country's quest to diversify its nuclear arsenal under full-spectrum deterrence, thereby proving that the country was drifting from minimum credible deterrence posture to full-spectrum deterrence posture, she further said.