Nuclear Deterrence
Context:
- On May 11, National Technology Day was marked in honour of the five nuclear tests, code-named Operation Shakti, that were successfully carried out on that date in 1998. This was the second Pokharan testing session, the first being the Peaceful Nuclear Explosion (PNE) test of a single weapon in 1974 under the pseudonym Smiling Buddha.
We Need Nuclear Deterrence:
- India and China have strained relations as a result of China and Pakistan’s occupation of Indian territory and violation of India’s sovereignty in a hostile neighbourhood. A credible minimum deterrence (CMD) was necessary to demoralise them.
- Nuclear proliferation: Pakistan and China had a friendly relationship despite international non-proliferation laws, and China helped Pakistan acquire nuclear weapons.
- A power imbalance in the region resulted, jeopardising India’s security and vital interests.
- Global leadership: India has long desired to be a significant player in the international community and is worthy of a place at the head of the table. Given that it is a responsible nuclear state, it may assert its position.
- Strategic Technology: It helped India improve its research and development skills in a variety of areas, including space, nuclear energy, cutting-edge weaponry, defence capabilities, etc.
Core Principles of Traditional Indian Nuclear Deterrence Policy for 2003:
- No First Use and Credible Minimum Deterrence: In nuclear strategy, minimal deterrence—also known as minimum deterrence or finite deterrence—is an application of the deterrence theory in which a state possesses no more nuclear weapons than are necessary to deter an adversary from attacking.
- According to the “pure minimal deterrence” ideology of “No First Use,” the only goal of nuclear weapons is to discourage nuclear adversaries by making the cost of a first strike intolerably high.
- India wouldn’t attack another country with nuclear weapons.
- For there to be a credible deterrence, there must be an assurance that any attack would result in reprisal.
- A nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be “massive” in magnitude and will result in “unacceptable amounts of damage.”
- India’s nuclear arsenal was created solely for defensive purposes and to serve as a deterrent against nuclear attacks from elsewhere.
- The non-use principle must be adhered to while dealing with countries without nuclear weapons.
- Nuclear retaliation attacks can only be launched by civil political leadership using the Nuclear Command Authority. As a prudent nuclear state, India today commands a great deal of respect internationally.
- keeping the testing prohibition, participating in FMCT negotiations, and maintaining strict restrictions on the transfer of commodities relating to nuclear and missile technologies. India currently complies with international non-proliferation rules in an indirect manner, which has improved India’s standing abroad.
- India will be able to use nuclear weapons as retaliation in the event of a serious biological or chemical attack against it.
- relentless pursuit of the goal of a universal, verifiable, and non-discriminatory arms reduction.
Indian Nuclear Triad Model:
- This paradigm holds that a nuclear-armed state should be able to launch nuclear strikes on the land, the air, and the sea.
- Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) would be the go-to weapon in this scenario if the other two failed.
- India’s nuclear triad was recently completed.
New ideas in India’s Nuclear Doctrine:
- Despite being openly denied, the Indian Armed Forces developed the Cold Start military doctrine for use in a fight with Pakistan.
- It requires conducting offensive operations along India’s western border within 48 hours without risking the risk of a nuclear exchange while operating as a unit.
- A limited military strategy is to quickly seize Pakistani land and surprise the enemy.
- Defensive Offence and Double Squeeze Policy: National Security Advisor Ajit Doval claims that the goal of this plan is to make it costly for Pakistan to continue funding terrorism against India.
- When you use defensive offence, you target the offense’s origin.
- Between the two extremes of an offensive attack and pure defensive, it is the middle ground.
- Pure defence is useless since terrorists will always find a way to circumvent security measures and penetrate. An offensive strategy is not chosen due to the probability of the nuclear threshold being crossed in an all-out war.
- The majority of terrorists under Double Squeeze are motivated by money, thus it is simple to control them by lavishing them with more cash than what their handlers in Pakistan have provided them.
- Another method of preventing radicalization among Indian young is to cooperate with the Muslim community through Islamic institutions.
- Pakistan’s weaknesses, like Balochistan, can also be used to lower support for terrorists.
