A. Vinod Kumar’s Article on Nuclear Balance in South Asia Published in The National Interest
June 28, 2012
Associate Fellow, IDSA, A. Vinod Kumar’s article on Nuclear Balance in South Asia, titled ‘South Asia’s Fragile Nuclear Balance’ was published in The National Interest on June 27, 2012.
Excerpt
Pakistan has used an unusual event—the inauguration of its naval strategic-forces command (NSFC) headquarters—to declare that it now possesses a sea-based nuclear-second-strike capability.
A press release from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations last month said that the opening of its headquarters marked the formal establishment of the new NSFC branch. It further explained that “HQ NFSC will perform a pivotal role in the development and employment of the Naval Strategic Force . . . which is the custodian of the nation’s 2nd strike capability.” But the release leaves room for speculation on whether the sea-based second-strike capability to be commanded by NSFC already exists or whether it will emerge with the naval strategic force.
