Islamabad: As part of the Youm-e-Takbeer celebration, the Center for Arms Control and Disarmament (ACDC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized a seminar titled “Missile Development in South Asia: Global and Regional Implications”. General (R) Zubair Mahmood Hayat NI(M) HI(M), former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was the Chief Guest. Important speakers included: Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, SPIR Dean and Professor, QAU; Air Commodore (R) Khalid Banuri, Advisor Jinnah Center for Character and Leadership (JCCL), AHQ Islamabad; Ms. Ghazala Yasmin Jalil, ACDC-ISSI Researcher; and Dr. Naeem Salik, President of the Strategic Vision Institute (SVI).
In his keynote address, General Zubair Mahmood Hayat provided a thorough analysis of India’s ideological and strategic shifts. He began by recalling Youm-e-Takbeer and emphasized that it is a day to reaffirm national pride and ownership. He said that missile development in South Asia should be seen as a “tool” in the hands of the current political dispensation in New Delhi which has led to an ideological shift from ‘India to Bharat’. He argued that the ideology of the RSS driving this transformation has far-reaching implications both regionally and globally. He argued that the expansionist and revisionist agenda now profoundly influencing Bharat’s strategic intent was markedly different from India’s historical strategic culture. General Hayat emphasized the politicization of India’s military strategy, drawing on historical figures such as Chanakya, whose principles emphasized power and deception at all costs. He pointed out that India’s aggressive missile development, including the deployment of advanced systems such as the BrahMos missile and development of the MIRV, reflects this new strategic posture. He emphasized that these developments pose significant regional and global security threats that require a vigilant and comprehensive response from Pakistan. He also pointed out that India has the fastest growing nuclear program in the world, which remains opaque. In addition, India’s nuclear and missile programs were the result of vertical and horizontal proliferation. He emphasized the need for a deeper understanding of the ideological shift in India and the imperative for Pakistan to have appropriate countermeasures.
In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, DG ISSI, highlighted the pivotal moment in South Asia’s nuclear history on 28 May 1998 – marked by Pakistan’s response to India’s nuclear tests and the rebalancing of the strategic balance in the region. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to maintaining strong deterrent capabilities and its role as a responsible nuclear power. Commenting on the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer, he said that it was rightly termed as Pakistan’s “finest hour” where the country demonstrated its technological prowess and unwavering national resolve. He expressed his sincere gratitude to all the leaders, scientists, engineers, strategists and diplomats who contributed to make Pakistan’s defense impregnable. He developed Pakistan’s post-1998 policy and emphasized the country’s strong operationalized deterrence capability, the development of a perfect nuclear safety and security regime, and Pakistan’s enhanced credentials as a responsible nuclear state on the international stage. He emphasized the importance of adopting a proactive, multi-pronged approach involving diplomatic, technological and military initiatives to mitigate the risks and threats posed by India’s advances in missile technology.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director, ACDC ISSI, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of Youm-e-Takbeer for strengthening Pakistan’s national security and strategic stability in South Asia. He pointed out that India’s ongoing nuclear and military modernization, development of advanced missile technology and recent tests of MIRV and hypersonic missile technology pose a direct challenge to regional strategic stability.
Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal discussed “Global Missile Development and International Security” and traced the evolution of missile technology and its proliferation. He highlighted growing security dilemmas and the rise of missile capabilities among major powers, including China, the US, Russia and India. He explained the weakening of the Cold War arms control architecture and the strategic implications of integrating nuclear technology with missile systems.
Air Commodore Khalid Banuri discussed India’s missile development, India’s ambitious missile programs, including the Agni-5 and MIRV technologies, and their strategic implications for Pakistan and China. He highlighted the technological advances and increasing range of Indian missiles that pose significant challenges to regional security.
Ms. Ghazala Yasmin Jalil presented an in-depth analysis of the development of India’s missile defense and hypersonic missiles. She explained the technological advancements in the field of hypersonic missiles and highlighted India’s pursuit of hypersonic missile technology, including the development of the HSTDV. She also explored the strategic implications of these advances for regional stability, arguing that the development of hypersonic missiles could destabilize the existing deterrence balance in South Asia.
Dr. Naeem Salik discussed Pakistan’s global and regional missile development capabilities. He discussed the development and deployment of ballistic missile defense systems, the rapid response capabilities of hypersonic missiles and the strategic challenges posed by India’s missile development. He suggested policy measures for Pakistan, including the adoption of alert regime.
The seminar concluded with a comprehensive question and answer session followed by a vote of thanks by Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of BoG ISSI.
