India hints revising ‘no first use’ nuclear policy

NEW DELHI

India may see a major shift in its nuclear weapon doctrine, by doing away with a “no first use policy” in the future, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.

The comments assume significance, in the midst of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The policy of “no first use” has been the cornerstone of India's nuclear weapons policy for decades.

Singh said that the government firmly stands by its policy, of not triggering the nuclear war first against any country, but “what happens in future will depend on the circumstances” – a broad hint of revising the nuclear doctrine, released in 2003.

Talking to newsmen in Pokhran -- nuclear and missile testing center in western province of Rajasthan – the minister recalled former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had resolved to make India a nuclear power, yet remain firmly committed to the doctrine of “no first use”.

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s manifesto for the 2014 elections included a promise to "revise and update India's nuclear doctrine". The promise, however, was not mentioned in the 2019 poll document.

Singh’s statement is also perceived to deter Pakistan for using tactical nuclear weapon against Indian military in a limited conventional war. A tactical nuclear weapon has a smaller explosive power, designed to be used in a battlefield in military situations.

India declared itself a nuclear weapons power after detonating nuclear device, in May 1998. Pakistan soon responded by testing its own nuclear bomb.

According to India’s nuclear doctrine, it will only use nuclear device, in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or its forces anywhere.

The doctrine also authorized the government to use resources to build and maintain a credible minimum nuclear deterrent.

The doctrine suggested that India’s nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be “massive” and designed to inflict “unacceptable damage”.

It also reserved to use nuclear weapons in case of an attack with biological and chemical weapons. The doctrine also envisaged India to continue to work towards a goal of nuclear weapon free world, through global, verifiable and non-discriminatory disarmament.

Apart from India, China is also pledged to “no first use” policy, stating "not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time or under any circumstances”.

In contrast, the U.S., the U.K, Pakistan and Russia have stated that they will use nuclear weapons, either against nuclear or non-nuclear nations, in case their territory comes under an attack.

While Israel refuses to confirm or deny it has nuclear weapons, military analysts and authors have named its doctrine as the “Samson Option”, which envisages to retaliate as a "last resort" against a country whose military invades or destroys much of Israel.

A biblical character Samson or Shamsun is believed to have pulled a temple pillar, when he was imprisoned, killing himself and all his detractors beneath the rubble.