A top minister in Narendra Modi’s Indian government has hailed 26 years since India blasted a nuclear device to defend the frontier of freedom and keep China in check.
External Affairs Minister of India Dr S Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) argued the “momentous decision” has helped keep the world a safer place.
Taking to X, the Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from Gujarat State said: “This day in 1998, an NDA Government finally exercised India’s nuclear weapon option.
“That momentous decision has since ensured our National Security.
“The current NDA Government has built on that foundation, robustly countering terror and building our border infrastructure.
“The country must know who stands where when it comes to National Security issues.
“Our political choices are eventually choices about the future of Bharat.”
Dr Jaishankar’s use of “Bharat” to describe India refers to the nation’s ancient Sanskrit name, which is reflected in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) election manifesto, as explained by senior research fellow Antonia Filmer.
Writing for this publication, she said: “Throughout the manifesto India is referred to as Bharat, this is an acknowledgement of the transformation that has occurred during the past ten years of Modi’s tenure.”
The minister’s statement refers to the Pokhran-II tests on May 11 and 13, 1998 when India conducted five nuclear tests of advanced weapon designs at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan Desert.
It was widely seen as a stabilising move in the region and world at large by countering the nefarious onslaught of destabilising the region by the Chinese Communist Party.
A nuclear doctrine comprises how a nation with nuclear arms uses them in peace and war.
India has developed its own doctrine in this respect which centres around eight key points.
They are as follows, as published by the Indian prime minister’s office in 2003:
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Building and maintaining a credible minimum deterrent
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A posture of “No First Use” nuclear weapons will only be used in retaliation against a nuclear attack on Indian territory or on Indian forces anywhere
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Nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage
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Nuclear retaliatory attacks can only be authorised by the civilian political leadership through the Nuclear Command Authority
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Non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states
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However, in the event of a major attack against India, or Indian forces anywhere, by biological or chemical weapons, India will retain the option of retaliating with nuclear weapons
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A continuance of strict controls on the export of nuclear and missile-related materials and technologies, participation in the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty negotiations, and continued observance of the moratorium on nuclear tests
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Continued commitment to the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world, through global, verifiable and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament.