ISLAMABAD: Advisor to the Strategic Plans Division, Ambassador Zamir Akram, underscored Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to upholding deterrence credibility during a discussion hosted by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS).
He emphasized the evolving dynamics of deterrence in light of advancing technologies, highlighting its crucial role in ensuring enduring peace.
Reflecting on the origins of conflicts between India and Pakistan, Ambassador Akram attributed them to India’s pursuit of hegemonic policies since 1947. He argued that Pakistan’s pursuit of security measures was a direct response to India’s aggressive ambitions, necessitating the acquisition of nuclear capability to counter India’s conventional dominance and establish a credible deterrent. This, he noted, effectively deterred New Delhi from initiating wars on numerous occasions.
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, voiced concerns over India’s development and deployment of advanced weaponry, warning that this trend was contributing to an arms race and undermining the strategic stability crucial for peace in South Asia.
He cautioned against India’s nationalist approach, which he believed intensified distrust among nuclear states, posing risks to the fragile regional security environment.
During the interactive session, Ambassador Akram elaborated on Indo-US cooperation, highlighting India’s increasingly assertive stance facilitated by its collaboration with the US. He referenced incidents such as Balakot and the revocation of Articles 370 and 35-A in IIOJK as examples of India’s aggressive posturing while positioning itself as a regional security provider.
Ambassador Akram stressed that Pakistan’s adoption of Full Spectrum Deterrence (FSD) was a response to India’s provocative strategies, aimed at maintaining credible deterrence between the two nations. He emphasized the necessity of avoiding misjudgments in the sensitive security landscape of South Asia, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to leveraging education in science and technology to keep pace with technological advancements.
In summary, Ambassador Akram and Ambassador Saleem’s remarks underscored Pakistan’s strategic imperatives in maintaining deterrence credibility amidst evolving regional dynamics, advocating for stability and peace in South Asia.
Ambassador Zamir Akram, a distinguished expert on strategic stability, highlighted the evolving nature of deterrence in light of advancing technologies, stressing the imperative of maintaining deterrence credibility for enduring peace. He traced the root of conflicts between India and Pakistan to India’s hegemonic pursuits since 1947, underscoring Pakistan’s defensive stance in response to these ambitions.
Akram argued that Pakistan’s acquisition of nuclear capability was crucial to balance India’s conventional superiority, effectively deterring New Delhi from initiating conflicts on multiple occasions. Meanwhile, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, expressed concerns over India’s arms buildup and its impact on regional stability, cautioning against the escalation fostered by India’s nationalist policies among nuclear states.
During discussions, Akram noted India’s increasingly assertive posture, facilitated by its cooperation with the US, exemplified by incidents like Balakot and changes in the status of Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that Pakistan’s adoption of Full Spectrum Deterrence (FSD) was a response to India’s aggressive stance, aimed at ensuring credible deterrence between the two nations.
Akram reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to avoiding missteps in the sensitive South Asian security landscape and stressed the importance of fostering education in science and technology to keep pace with advancements. He concluded by affirming Pakistan’s dedication to maintaining credible deterrence as pivotal to regional peace and stability.
