Read the history, check when Chinese developed their ICBMs and thermo nuclear bombs. And be surprised. The idea of super power comes from the ability to wipe out the adversary completely. The conventional toys, the stealth fighters , the air craft carriers are force multipliers.
My friend, you cannot influence the world with your nuclear arsenal exclusively. You can do that with your economic investments, promotion of your values, game-changing inventions and power-projection capabilities*. US is reshaping the entire world to its image with the combination of the aforementioned factors.
Nuclear weapons are perceived as tools of deterrence in policy-making circles; not aggression. Why do you think that countries think twice about using even low-yield
tactical nukes in the battlefield? Because of the consequences.
*
Power projection encompasses both conventional and nuclear capabilities. However, conventional weapons continue to be the primary choice for power projection in conflicts, and will remain so in the future. Nuclear weapons have taken the role of deterrence.
Among the nuclear powers of the world, only the US is superpower. Others are not. Ponder over this.
School boy error. You mentioned Chinese history, but you fail to realise that we are in much dangerous situation right in the middle of the eye of the storm, the global chess board. Of all, its us who need a full fledged nuke deterrence. Who says nuclear war is winnable? Its the deterrence against close or far away enemies, in present , or future potential adversaries. If ICBM counter measures were so effective, the Russians and Chinese would have raised the white flag infront of west by now. Again school boy error. I am sure you understand the concept of MIRV!?
I explained to you the reasons for China going nuclear and its nuclear policy. No school-boy error in that. Straightforward facts. Their is another aspect of it; global anti-nuclear movement was in its infancy back then. However, situation is different now (i.e. global anti-nuclear movement is much stronger).
If we are finding ourselves in a dire situation, it is an indication that we need to deescalate. Escalation is not the solution. Unless Pakistan is perceived as a stable country, free from the menace of terrorism and extremism, the international community will not give us free-hand to expand our nuclear profile.
Besides, it is important to understand that Pakistan cannot achieve full-spectrum nuclear deterrence on its own. We still need input and materials from other states in this regard. However, even our all-weather friend (i.e. China) will not go that far.
Isnt it ironic that five veto yielding "powers" in UN are all nuke powers? You should not be using Russia as an example specially in present geo political situation when its trampling the US/West designs in middle east without giving a second thought.
Russia is trampling US/West designs in the ME? Are you kidding me?
Russia is on the defensive in its effort to defend its interests in the ME, while US is on the offensive, since early 1990s.
You are not looking at the bigger picture. The terrorism that we are facing is all forigen sponsored. Unless you draw a sword against those nations who are sponsoring terrorism, dont expect results to go according to your wishes in this war on terror. All gains will be temporary till they find new Mullah Fazullah or Khurasani.
We should stop burying our head in the sand, and recognize the EVIL within us. Blaming others is a cheap cop-out from the problems we are facing.
TTP and BLA were/are home-grown anti-state movements. BLA gained spotlight in 1970s and TTP gained spotlight in the 21st century. The entire Pakistani society needs to realize this fact first. Who are funding them, is irrelevant.
It is also important to understand that radicalization of our society is the unintended consequence of the misguided foreign policy of the former (and deceased) COAS, M. Zia-ul-Haq.
We need to de-hyphenate ourselves from India and think globally. India is one of our several adversaries, open and disguised. Nobody asked India when they tested their ICBM. Why should we care? This half cup full nuke status, as a said, is/will invite more trouble for us and strategic miscalculations by some powers may lead to disaster which can be easily be avoided by flexing muscle now. Geopolitics is changing at rapid pace, our old school India specific strategy has lost its value long time ago.
The world perceives India in a different manner than Pakistan. US, in particular, perceives India as a counter-balance to China in the region, and is sympathetic towards Indian efforts to checkmate China in the nuclear spectrum.
Since inception, India carried itself much more responsibly in geopolitical arena than Pakistan by joining the non-aligned club during Cold War, upholding its democratic norms, encouraging foreign investment, and didn't had nuclear proliferation designs.
Pakistan's right to have credible deterrence against external threats is not in question but it is not advisable to create new enemies (in official capacity) and be held responsible for fueling nuclear arms race when the global anti-nuclear movement is gaining moment. Pakistan risks becoming North Korea 2.0 with such initiatives. No sane Pakistani would want the country to be isolated and become a failed state.
We have the geography and technology to build effective full spectrum deterrence, a terms already used by country movers and shakers.
We do not.
Russia, US and China are huge countries; they have lot of space to disperse nuclear stockpiles on land. They also have enormous exposure to oceans and blue-water naval capability to make their second-strike capabilities practical. Pakistan doesn't have similar luxury in the aspect of geography and nor the naval capability.
But to have full spectrum only against India is a foolishness of highest order. When we signed on the CPEC, we have basically upset a lots of power who will leave no stone unturned to ensure that this project fail, even at the cost of Pakistan. We need to up our game.
True, we should all have faith in Allah. And what I said is in line of Allah's commandment "And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy and others besides them whom you do not know [but] whom Allah knows. And whatever you spend in the cause of Allah will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged." (8:60)
The expression used, "whom you do not know". Some of us pretend as if they dont know , some have got their head buried in the sand.
That is all good, but we need a suitable environment and lot of resources for developing full-spectrum nuclear deterrence. In our case, the environment is not conducive for it and neither we have the resources.
The example of North Korea is in front of you. A country aiming for full-spectrum deterrence under unfavorable environment. And the result is failure and isolation even with Chinese backing.
Do also keep in mind that nuclear weapons will not stop any foreign entity from sabotaging our interests and exploiting our internal weaknesses. They never did. They know that we will not use our nuclear weapons under these circumstances.
You want to deter foreign aggression and designs against us? Then develop the capability to bring war and instability to their lands. We need powerful economy and military might for the said purpose. They will provide us much greater leverage in foreign affairs and deter foreign designs in a more effective manner.
And you think we will just sit quietly. why do you forget we are also a nuclear power and will do massive dispropotionate reaction Do you think your country will survive an attack by US/Russia on one side and India on the other?
