USI organised a RTD with a three member delegation headed by Mr. Sameer Lalwani, Deputy Director, South Asia Program, The Stimson Center, on 02 November 2015 from 1030-1230 hours. The other members of the team were Ms. Julia Thompson and Mr. Shane Mason. This discussion was a follow up of the previous discussion which was held at the Stimson Center in June 2015. The session was chaired by Lt Gen P K Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) Director, USI. The discussions were attended by USI members and some special invitees.
Mr. Sameer Lalwani, Deputy Director, South Asia Program, spoke on various nuclear issues of Pakistan, possible scenarios and the intended Pakistani policy of the use of nuclear weapons in conflict situations. He also highlighted the conventional and nuclear strategies –‘the full spectrum response’ planned by Pakistan to counter India’s Military Doctrine. MS Julia Thompson flagged issues relating to ceasefire violations on the Indo-Pak border and Mr. Shane Mason discussed Pakistan’s defense budget. Questions were raised regarding the technical capabilities of Pakistan as far as Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNW) were concerned and also the related Command and Control problems. Nuclear Terrorism and issues of Pakistan proliferating nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia was also discussed.
In the interactive session the short comings of the American response to Pakistan’s nuclear posture was highlighted. American reluctance to take concrete measures to tackle Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail and brinkmanship was also discussed. The issue of Pakistan’s adventurism in lowering the nuclear threshold and the role of non-state actors in destabalising the region through nuclear terrorism was also deliberated upon.
Report prepared by Dr Roshan Khanijo, Senior Research Fellow and Research Coordinator, USI.