Intelligentsia, Political Elites Must Develop Understanding Of Nuclear Issues: Expert

News Desk

Islamabad: There is a need for the intelligentsia and political elites to develop a greater understanding of nuclear issues, said Strategic Vision Institute (SVI) Executive Director Dr Naeem Ahmad Salik.

Speaking at a conference held by SVI and the Faculty of Aerospace and Strategic Studies (FASS) at Air University, Islamabad, Dr Salik answered question about the “imaginary Indian threat”, by referring to the aggressive rhetoric often employed by Indian policymakers about occupying parts of Azad Kashmir and added that Pakistan faces a real threat from India, with whom it has fought three wars and numerous border skirmishes.

Dr Naeem Ahmad further said that the introduction of nuclear deterrence has prevented wars between India and Pakistan.

He underscored the French concept of “proportionate deterrence” and added that, as illustrated by the French case; nuclear deterrence can also contribute towards avoiding the arms race between nuclear weapon states.

Quaid-e-Azam University Professor Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal stated that India is entering into partnerships with technologically advanced countries, like the USA and Israel, which would adversely impact strategic stability in South Asia.

Dr Jaspal added that the real challenge emanates from India’s unilateral pursuit of disruptive technologies, which is widening the gap between India and Pakistan in military technology. The situation is further aggravated by the absence of confidence-building measures (CBMs) between the two countries.

FASS Dean Dr Adil Sultan said that misperceptions about strategic issues can be avoided by raising awareness among the students and the general public.

Dr. Adil highlighted the challenge of filtering misinformation on social media and urged students to focus on national security issues based on theory and reality. He stressed the need for students to enhance their understanding of national security issues.

The conference was part of the SVI Outreach Program and was attended by experts, practitioners, academics, and a large number of students from various universities in Islamabad.