Why in news?
- The Indian Nuclear Doctrine is a well-stitched, rational nuclear policy which has been a promise of Indians not to be the first to use nuclear weapons in conflict, after a 1998 nuclear test (No First Use Policy).
- Rajnath Singh, the Defense Minister said that this doctrine is subject to change in later stages in the light of tensions between India and Pakistan.
About the doctrine:
- India’s strategy is entirely retaliatory and not negative.
- “Nuclear weapons are only used to repress a nuclear attack in Indian territory or any part on Indian forces,” was the key in the doctrine.
- However, the doctrine made it clear that the “nuclear repressive-nuclear strike in India” is massive and aimed at inflicting intolerable damage.
- China, too, has a NFU program and there is no cause for concern about the Chinese-Indian nuclear situation.
- On the other hand, Pakistan is continually trying to make nuclear threats more prominent in order to contain India’s terrorist reaction and at the same time call international attention.
The initial use of Nuclear Weapons:
- The initial use of nuclear weapons will require massive growth of the capacity of India to supply nuclear weapons.
- There is currently no evidence that the production of Indian missiles has dramatically increased in recent times.
- Ultimately, the surveillance, tracking and reconstruction (ISR) capabilities of India’s infrastructure should be improved to such a degree that India is assured of taking the majority of its opponent’s arms out.
- India’s nuclear alerting protocol should be significantly altered.
- The main advantage of NFU is that it minimizes the likelihood of nuclear use.
- This is because the probability of resolving the crisis is increased by miscommunications, misjudgement, misunderstanding and fog of war.
- Instead, if the two powers are NFUs, there’s a greater likelihood of politicians stepping back from the edge because they know that a nuclear war can not be won.
- NFU also offers an opportunity to cooperate with China for a Global No First Use order (GNFU). Instead of raising doubts about own adherence, India should take the lead in seeking a GNFU policy.
- Given that the strategic climate in India is developing rapidly, all strategic issues must be considered clearly.
