Nuclear weapons only a strategic tool: Army chief

Jan 16, 2012 |

New Delhi

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Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh on Sunday said nuclear weapons have a strategic significance but that these are not meant for fighting wars.

In response to a question —in the context of the nuclear arsenals of Pakistan and China and India’s position — from the media on Army Day, Gen. Singh said: “Nuclear weapons are not for war fighting. Let’s be quite clear on it. They’ve got a strategic significance and that’s where it should end. Me and my Army are not bothered about who has nuclear weapons. We have our task cut out and we will progress along that.”

India has a clear no-first-use policy regarding nuclear weapons. Defence sources pointed out that India’s nuclear arsenal is meant for a credible deterrence. But India has also taken note of reports about Pakistan substantially increasing its nuclear arsenal.

India is also understood to be taking adequate measures to maintain its deterrence capabilities following these reports. India’s tri-services Strategic Forces Command is tasked with operationalising its nuclear weapons in the case of any eventuality.

Pakistan reportedly increased the number of its nuclear warheads to have an arsenal much larger than India’s China has also been accused of covertly helping Pakistan with its nuclear weapons programme.

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