India may have to revisit nuclear no-first use policy

[xebex]

India may have to revisit nuclear no-first use policy: Army chief

NEW DELHI: Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor may have opened a fresh discussion on India's nuclear posture and preparedness with his recent remarks that
if reports of Pakistan's expanded arsenal are correct, then New Delhi may well have to reconsider its strategic stance.

The Army chief's latest remarks with regard to a report by Federation of American Scientists which said the Pakistani arsenal could be as large as 70-90 warheads — he had earlier said if true this went beyond deterrence — has further spurred the debate in the strategic community.

Kapoor's implied suggestion that India could have to revisit its no-first use policy in case the strength of Pakistan’s nuclear was close to what had been claimed, will challenge a long held position. The need to think afresh is also linked to Pakistan deliberately blurring its red lines to maintain a nebulous doctrine.

Security expert Brahma Chellaney feels there there is need to review India’s “deterrence posture” while another analyst Bharat Karnad says no-first-use is not a substantive declaration. But they agree there is a need to plug gaps in India’s posture with regard to both Pakistan and China.

Though India’s doctrine has been touted as an indication of New Delhi’s peaceful intentions, Pakistan’s aggressive nuclearisation may mean that India needs to take a second look at its doctrine.

A number of eminent scientists in the past few weeks have made a case for India strengthening its nuclear capabilities and Kapoor’s remark that ‘‘India shall take a look at its stance’’ has added to the growing perception that the Indian nuclear arsenal needs refurbishing, if not the need to carry out more tests, to maintain its nuclear programme’s cutting edge.

The FAS claim is further buttressed by a report of the US Congressional Research Services, an independent bipartisan research wing of Congress, which has now said that Pakistan is not just making ‘‘qualitative and quantitative’’ improvement to its nuclear arsenal but has also added to the list of circumstances under which it would be willing to use them against India.

It said the number of warheads Pakistan had could be much more than the official figure of 60 and that this had been indicated to CRS by none other than the US government.

May have to revisit nuclear no-first use policy: Army chief - India - NEWS - The Times of India

 

[luoshan]

No.. Nuclear weapons should be the used only as last option to protect territorial integrity.

 

[gogbot]

At least India is being honest about its intentions , Announcing things like this rather than making back room decisions and saying something else aloud .
Will show India's integrity to its statements.

 

[aimarraul]

No.. Nuclear weapons should be the used only as last option to protect territorial integrity.

you gotta make sure it's india's territory,not just india have NB to protect territorial integrity,a bluffing pronouncement

 

[ouiouiouiouiouioui]

you gotta make sure it's india's territory,not just india have NB to protect territorial integrity,a bluffing pronouncement

what about taiwan and tibet...

 

[aimarraul]

what about taiwan and tibet...

how many countries recognize taiwan and tibet as a country......count the number with your fingers,you idiot

 

[ouiouiouiouiouioui]

how many countries recognize taiwan and tibet as a country......count the number with your fingers,you idiot

mods pls check the language......

 

[ouiouiouiouiouioui]

how many countries recognize taiwan and tibet as a country......count the number with your fingers,you idiot

yes there was no unrest in Tibet few months back......world saw the censored and undercovered coverage and .......about taiwan.....LOL....u seem to be not updated

 

[Brahm0s]

how many countries recognize taiwan and tibet as a country......count the number with your fingers,you idiot

idiot? Who gave you right to call others idiot? Well anyway u are calling your self idiot if you say 'TAIWAN' aint a country lol. U gotta be joking me. Our dalai lama was having TEA SIP in tawain. i like watching that. i hope china enjoyed it lol cheers. Anyway back to topic. i think india should end 'no first use policy'. May be next year when its agni V (5000plus KM) TEST. whats the use having nuclear bombs when its no first use? Lol cheers.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

how many countries recognize taiwan and tibet as a country......count the number with your fingers,you idiot

Please refrain from personal attacks on other members.

 

[khanakhazana]

Brahma Chellaney has a history of being right. I think India should either opt for an expansion of her nuclear arsenal, or opt for a more advanced state of readiness for her existing arsenal.

India's current nuclear arsenal is a deterrent only in name. Without weaponizing the thermonuclear bomb, it is not much of a threat for China, which has vastly superior capabilities.

 

[khanakhazana]

The problem lies in the timid, reticent attitude of India's defence establishment. They chose to sit on their haunches after the tests of 1998, and have done little else since then to upgrade Indian capabilities.
Even today, Indian bureaucrats in the NSA seem to be in a state of denial as Pakistan herself expands her own nuclear weapon capabilities, under the watchful eye of China.

 

[Developereo]

No worries.
Nobody believed the "no first use" nonsense anyway.
It's good to be honest.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

No worries.
Nobody believed the "no first use" nonsense anyway.
It's good to be honest.

A Pakistani journalist, when discussing Pakistan's concerns about its Eastern front, argued that, 'Intent can change, but the planning is based on capability'.

 

[xebex]

The idea of no-first-use is a good one, but when most of the nuclear states (especially hostile neighbours) dont have such policy,then it would not make any difference in this world. World would be better off if every nuclear states can declare No-First-Use Policy. IMO, India should build it conventional weapons and Multiple strike capablities if she is intent to stick with NFU.