Islamabad: The country’s top adviser to its nuclear command body believes that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is what puts Indian military design under control.
At an event organized by the Islamabad Policy Institute (IPRI) on Tuesday, retired Khalid Ahmed Kidwai said the country’s full spectrum deterrence (FSD) (or the lowest credible deterrence) was never damaged during May.
Lieutenant General Kidway, the country’s National Command (NCA), also pointed out the newly formed Army Rocket Force (ARFC) will increase the nuclear threshold by providing additional strategic deterrence between conventional actions and potential employment of nuclear forces.
He explained that the ARFC is only a response to modern battlefield demand, and that nuclear deterrence remains the ultimate shield to India.
According to a press release released after the event, the former head of the Army’s Strategic Planning Department (SPD) said Pakistan’s FSD works in both the east and the west, which is not a “bluff”.
He stressed that unlike India, Pakistan has repeatedly proved that constraints and responsibilities are key components of its nuclear policy.
“The large size of the Indian army does not tell the whole story…quality, technology and training are the power multipliers that determine the winners in the armed confrontation.”
He noted: “Not only did India not achieve any of its political strategic military goals, but it also suffered a significant military reversal, especially in the IAF.”
Posted at Dawn on September 17, 2025
