‘Sticking to policy, but circumstances will decide future’
Amid Pakistan’s posturing following the Narendra Modi Government’s move on Article 370, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said India is “firmly committed” to the “no first use” nuclear policy but what happens in future depends on the circumstances. His remark assumes importance since it underscores that India reserves the right to change its policy of “no first use” in place for many years.
Rajnath said this on Twitter after visiting Pokhran, where India conducted nuclear tests under the leadership of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998. Pokhran is also the site where two nuclear tests were first conducted in 1974 when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister.
“Pokhran is the area which witnessed Atal Ji’s firm resolve to make India a nuclear power and yet remain firmly committed to the doctrine of ‘No First Use’. India has strictly adhered to this doctrine. (But) What happens in future depends on the circumstances,” Rajnath said.
A no-first-use (NFU) policy gives an assurance by a nuclear power not to use nuclear weapons unless first attacked by an adversary with nuclear weapons. The Government’s stated position till now has been that nuclear weapons are solely for deterrence and India will pursue a policy of “retaliation only”.
“India attaining the status of a responsible nuclear nation became a matter of national pride for every citizen of this country. The nation will remain indebted to the greatness of Atal Ji,” Rajnath said in a tweet on the occasion of Vajpayee’s first death anniversary.
He said, “It is a coincidence that today I came for International Army Scout Masters Competition in Jaisalmer & today it is the first death anniversary of #AtalBihariVajpayee. So, I felt I should pay tribute to him on the land of Pokhran only.
Accompanied by Army Chief General Bipin Rawat, Rajnath was the chief guest at the closing ceremony of competition held at the Jaisalmer military station from August 6 to 14. The Indian contingent stood first.
The NFU doctrine saw India acquire civil nuclear technology after it signed a deal with the US, despite being a non-member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and a non-signatory of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Given this position, at present, experts and politicians in the last few years questioned the “no first use” policy. Then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had raised doubts about in November 2016. The nuclear doctrine underlining not first use policy came into being in 2003 during the NDA regime.
While India sticks to its policy, Pakistan does not have an NFU policy and often brandishes it claiming it needs nuclear weapons to deal with India’s much bigger military. In fact, Pakistan threatened to use nuclear weapons after India mobilised troops in the aftermath of Parliament House terrorist attack in December 2001.
