Nuclear defense deterrence

It was on 28 May that Pakistan faced with challenge of Indian belligerent designs was forced to test and publicly announce its nuclear defense deterrence to counter India’s threatening posture and nuclear explosions and threats. Earlier it was a civilian PM ZAB, who having witnessed our humiliating surrender in 1971 took bold initiative to acquire nuclear capability, despite American threats, that they will make an example out of him. It also goes to his credit that he arranged finances from Libyan leader Qadaffi and Saudi Shah Feisal and gathered a team of Pakistani scientists, engineers, working in various nuclear facilities and research centers.

There is no doubt that PM Nawaz Shariff was a relatively weaker man, both in intellect and vision compared to ZAB, yet he knew that public opinion in Pakistan would never forgive him, if he does not respond in kind. Pakistan’s Father of Nation MAJ had clearly laid down his vision that survival and destiny of Pakistan lies in adoption of a democratic welfare state concept, where power lies with people and state is answerable to them. There is no concept of either a monarchy nor dictatorship in Islam and according to renowned Islamic scholar Muhammad Asad, the closest concept to Islamic system of governance is democracy.

We must remember that on two phone calls from USA and UK, the powerful military dictator Ayub Khan chose not to avail perhaps sole golden opportunity to liberate IOK in 1962 despite Chinese advice and Indian army having suffered a humiliating defeat. It was again Zia who got this country involved in a proxy war to please USA.  As if this was not enough Musharraf succumbed to threatening phone call of Under Secretary in Bush administration and offered bases including facility for drone attacks on our citizens.

Malik Tariq

Lahore