Kidwai explains criticality of country's N-capability
Lt Gen Kidwai has stated this while speaking at a seminar hosted by ISSI seminar on 'The Future of Deterrence and Emerging Challenges' in connection with Youm-e-Takbeer here on Wednesday.
He underscored the emergence of a 'new normal' in South Asia's strategic environment following the recent intense escalation-cum-retaliation mini war between India and Pakistan.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF)'s decisive performance, leveraging advanced Chinese-technology and using integrated multi-domain tactics, has established Pakistan as the dominant air power in South Asia.
Gen Kidwai further said this shift validates Pakistan's conventional deterrence as an effective complement to its robust nuclear arsenal.
He outlined the key tenets of the 'new normal': Air superiority has shifted decisively to Pakistan, with the Pakistan Air Force now the dominant air power in South Asia; Pakistan's battle-tested conventional deterrent, especially its Air Force, has assumed a leading role in regional deterrence; Pakistan's credible nuclear deterrence will continue to constrain and limit India's political and operational choices, thereby maintaining strategic stability; any Indian aggression will be met with a 'notch-up response' as Field Marshal Asim Munir has promised, a 'Quid Pro Quo Plus', as Pakistan's retaliation will always be a calibrated and escalated response; India's pattern of seeking ceasefires following Pakistan's intense retaliation has become an established norm; and international diplomatic interventions will persist in managing crises to prevent escalation beyond defined limits.
Additionally, former DG NCA asserts that Pakistan reserves the right to reciprocate any terror attack with conventional responses against pre-determined adversaries, reflecting a reciprocal logic to India's declared doctrines.
While commemorating the 27th anniversary of Pakistan's nuclear tests, Lt. Gen. Kidwai reaffirmed that Pakistan's nuclear capability remains the cornerstone of its national security, ensuring strategic stability and restoring balance in South Asia.
He emphasized that the defining feature of the new strategic reality is the reversal of air superiority in the region.
He further outlined that Pakistan's nuclear weapons program had continued to serve as a robust deterrent and the guarantor of peace and stability in South Asia.
Over the last six years, India's Hindutva-driven BJP government had twice tested nuclear-armed Pakistan's political will, strategic resolve, and military capability first by striking mainland Pakistan in February 2019, and again in Azad Kashmir in May 2025.
On both occasions, India emerged second best. These confrontations reaffirmed the credibility of Pakistan's deterrent posture both conventional and nuclear and demonstrated that any Indian aggression would be met with a stronger-than-proportional response.
He concluded by stressing Pakistan's steadfast resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and regional peace in an environment shaped by emerging threats and technological advancements, marking a strategic shift that firmly favours Pakistan's security interests in South Asia.
He also underlined that India and Pakistan should seize the opening provided by President Trump's diplomatic initiative by taking the path of dialogue and addressing the conflicts plaguing South Asia.
In his remarks DG ISSI Ambassador as part of the commemoration of Youm-e-Takbeer, the Arms Control and Sohail Mahmood emphasized the enduring significance of Youm-e-Takbeer as a landmark in South Asia's strategic history.
He recalled Pakistan's decisive response to India's nuclear provocations in 1998, which reestablished deterrence and restored strategic balance in the region. He noted that Pakistan's nuclear journey was not a choice but a necessity driven by existential security imperatives.
He highlighted Pakistan's responsible conduct as a nuclear state over the past 27 years, and stressed five key elements of national policy: a credible and operationalized deterrent; an impeccable nuclear safety and security regime; a growing record of peaceful nuclear applications; responsible international conduct; and consistent nuclear diplomacy to combat discrimination and misperception.
He cautioned that the regional security environment is increasingly volatile due to disruptive technologies, and India's destabilizing posture, including MIRVs, sea-based deterrents, and counterforce strategies. He also referred to India's post-Pahalgam misadventure, and lauded Pakistan's calibrated response, while warning about New Delhi's strategic recklessness, driven by Hindutva ideology and electoral calculation.
He reaffirmed that Pakistan's Full Spectrum Deterrence under Credible Minimum Deterrence ensures that no space exists for aggression below the nuclear threshold. He concluded by reiterating that deterrence is not about fear it is about stability, responsibility, and peace through strength and emphasized that Pakistan remains fully committed to its strategic posture, with clarity, restraint, and resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and regional stability.
Amb Zamir Akram discussed 'Emerging Challenges and Regional Deterrence,' emphasizing the transformation of South Asia's strategic landscape post-nuclearisation. He highlighted India's increasingly aggressive posture, including false flag operations and hybrid warfare tactics involving proxies like the BLA.
He analysed Pakistan's calibrated and robust military response, particularly following India's 2025 misadventure, which resulted in the downing of several Indian aircraft and exposed the vulnerability of its advanced air defence systems.
He emphasized that while nuclear deterrence prevents full-scale war, India's coercive strategies continue to undermine strategic stability in the region. He concluded that India's strategic autonomy has weakened, while Pakistan's resilience and strategic partnership with China remain critical for regional stability.
Air Commodore Khalid Banuri delivered an insightful discussion on 'Emerging Technologies and the Changing Nature of Warfare.' He examined the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence, cyber and electronic warfare, hypersonic systems, and space-based capabilities, highlighting their implications for speed, precision, and asymmetry in conflict.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Islamabad, Kabul upgrade envoys status
Pakistan and Afghanistan have officially elevated their diplomatic engagement to the ambassadorial level, a move that marks a significant step in normalising bilateral relations amid ongoing regional tensions. The two sides decided to upgrade their diplomatic relationship in May when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his Pakistani and Afghan counterparts to broker a deal. On Friday, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that the Chargé d'Affaires (CDAs) in both capitals had been upgraded to the rank of ambassador through mutual agreement. "The bilateral relations between the two countries are now at the ambassadorial level. And that process, in our view, is complete," he said during his weekly news briefing. He added that the Afghan envoy in Islamabad now enjoys protocol reserved for a full-time ambassador, and "no further action is required" in this regard. Normally, ambassadors present their credentials to the president as part of the protocol but in the Afghan ambassador's case, the Foreign Office said no such formality was needed. Although Pakistan decided to upgrade their ties, there is no plan yet to officially recognise the Taliban government. Currently, Russia is the only country which has recognised the Taliban government. Even as both sides formally upgraded their ties, the Taliban energy minister on Friday alleged that Pakistan never wanted to see a "strong and stable central Afghan government". But the Foreign Office spokesperson dismissed those concerns as unfounded. Responding to a question on recent minister's remarks, Shafqat said: "the statement completely belies common sense, history and the facts." He reiterated Islamabad's longstanding view that no country has a greater interest in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan than Pakistan. On the persistent security concerns along the western border, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, Khan reiterated Pakistan's position that the issue of cross-border terrorism remains a central concern in its talks with Afghan authorities. "We have, on a number of occasions, highlighted that the issue of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan is a centrepiece of our conversations with the Afghan government. We have been drawing their attention to the fact that terrorists enjoy sanctuaries in Afghanistan," he said. He also underscored Islamabad's concerns over Indian involvement in destabilising activities within Pakistan. "We have evidence about India's involvement in fanning terrorism in Pakistan, we have shared those with our friendly countries and will keep highlighting it," he added. On the possibility of the Afghan Foreign Minister's visit, the spokesperson said no dates had been finalised yet. "If a visit is finalised, the Foreign Ministry makes an announcement. The two sides are still working. I would reiterate that as soon as the dates are finalised, we will officially announce." Earlier, Afghan Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was scheduled to travel to Pakistan on a three-day visit on August 4 but the visit was postponed at the last minute due to a "technical issue."
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Airspace closure costs Pak Rs4.1b
The closure of Pakistan's airspace has affected 100 to 150 Indian aircraft daily, resulting in about a 20% reduction in air traffic, said a written reply submitted by the Ministry of Defence to the National Assembly regarding closure of airspace in the wake of Pakistan-India confrontation in May. According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), the closure for aircraft registered with Indian airlines caused a loss of approximately Rs4.1 billion in overflight revenue between April 24 and June 30, 2025. The airspace was closed after the April 22 attack on tourists in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. Later on May 7 India launched missile strikes inside Pakistan sparking a conflict that lasted till May 10 when Pakistan launched a series of attacks inside India. In 2019, the closure of airspace after Pulwama attack in the held Kashmir had caused a loss of about Rs7.6 billion in overflight revenue for the PAA — then called the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). During the recent confrontation with India, Pakistan bore certain financial losses due to the airspace closure; however, national sovereignty and defence are considered more important than economic interests, the reply added. Safeguarding the homeland remains the top priority. Currently, Pakistan's airspace is open for all airlines except Indian aircraft. Pakistani airlines and aircraft are also prohibited from flying over Indian airspace. Before the 2019 tensions, the average daily overflight revenue stood at $508,000. Despite this temporary disruption, the PAA demonstrated financial resilience. When it comes to defending national sovereignty and security, no price is too high. The defence of Pakistan will always remain our foremost priority, it added.
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business Recorder
JI demands govt overhaul Karachi public transport system
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Chief, Monem Zafar Khan has said that the World Bank's recent report on Karachi's transport system paints a worrying picture, underlining serious shortfalls in urban mobility for the megacity's growing population. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Monem Zafar said that the report exposes the significant challenges Karachi faces, particularly in public transport availability and infrastructure development. 'According to the World Bank, the city needs at least 15,000 buses to meet its public transport demands, but we currently have only a fraction of that,' he said. He pointed out that while other cities like Lahore have seen projects like the E-train and rapid bus systems, Karachiites are largely dependent on three-wheelers and rickshaws due to limited public transport options. Monem Zafar noted that although new bus initiatives are often announced, including promises of double-decker buses and improvements to bus corridors, progress remains limited. 'On-ground reality does not match these announcements,' he said, adding that some of the buses launched under various projects are reportedly lying unused in depots due to maintenance or operational issues. Referring to ongoing projects such as the Green Line and Red Line bus systems, he said these efforts have not yet translated into tangible relief for daily commuters. He added that roads along major corridors, including University Road, remain under construction for long periods, creating inconvenience for the public. Monem Zafar also called for the revival and completion of earlier transport projects such as the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), and suggested revisiting the plans implemented during former city mayor Nematullah Khan's tenure, which introduced the idea of a mass transit system. He urged the authorities to conduct an audit of all buses brought to the city in recent years to determine their current status and ensure better accountability. 'We need to know how many buses were procured, how many are operational, and what happened to the rest,' he said. The JI leader concluded that improving Karachi's transport network was essential not just for easing public hardship, but also for the overall economic and social development of the city. He expressed hope that the recommendations in the World Bank report would be taken seriously and translated into actionable policy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
