Who controls nuclear weapons in Pakistan? Prime Minister or Army, whose permission is necessary to use it
Pakistani-made Shaheen-IA missile (AP file Photo)
Tensions have flared between India and Pakistan after the henious Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 civilian lives on the afternoon of April 22, Tuesday. Amid the ongoing diplomatic row between the two nations, Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif addressed the situation in an interview with British house The Sky. Post the attack, the Indus Water Treat, Simla Agreement are 'in abeyance'
The intensifying dispute between the countries has triggered anxiety and panic amongst citizens of an impending war between the two nuclear nations. Asked if Pakistan fears an escalation as a result of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Minister said the country is prepared to respond 'in kind'. 'We will measure our response to whatever is initiated by India, according to that. It would be a measured response, if there is an all-out attack or something like that, then obviously there will be an all-out war,' he said in the virtual interview.
When asked if the world should be worried, the minister responded, 'Yes, I think so. The clash between two nuclear powers is always worrisome…' Who Controls Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons?
Pakistan is one of the nine states that posses nuclear power. It conducted its first nuclear test in May 1998, a few weeks after India successful accomplished under Indian government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. When it comes to who holds the power, permissions and authority of the details of all and any nuclear weapon in the country, it remains a highly classified information for any nation.
However, the nuclear weapons are controlled by the National Command Authority (NCA) in Pakistan. This body is chaired by the Prime Minister who is responsible for decision and policy making.
The NCA was established in 2000 for maintaining and enhancing control and operational effectiveness of Pakistan's nuclear weapons. The NCA runs along with the directorial from the President, Prime Minister, Interiors, Finance, Defence Minister of Pakistan, commanders of Army, Navy and Air Force among other officials
Pakistan is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Owing to its security strategies, it never declared a 'No First Use' doctrine either.
Pakistan on Using Nuclear Weapons
Recently, Pakistan Minister Hanif Abbasi openly threatened India for a ' full scale war.' 'If they stop the water supply to us, then they should be ready for a war. The military equipment we have, the missiles we have, they're not for display. Nobody knows where we have placed our nuclear weapons across the country. I say it again, these ballistic missiles, all of them are targeted at you,' he warned.
Terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formally taken over the Pahalgam terrorist attack case, intensifying its search for evidence and questioning eyewitnesses to unravel the terror conspiracy.
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