Last Updated:
A sea-based nuclear second-strike capability is a country’s ability to launch a retaliatory nuclear attack even after suffering a devastating first strike.
According to the report, Pakistan sought guarantees from China against potential US political, economic, or diplomatic retaliation over the move. (Reuters Image)
Pakistan had sought a sea-based nuclear second-strike capability from its all-weather ally, China, in 2024. However, Beijing — despite already supplying Islamabad with weapons and extensive financial support — refused to transfer what is considered one of the most sensitive components of a nuclear deterrence system, according to classified documents released by Drop Site News.
China reportedly described Pakistan’s request as “unreasonable”, warning that providing such a capability would amount to direct Chinese involvement in nuclear proliferation in South Asia.
The documents further claimed that Pakistan placed several conditions before allowing China to convert the deep-water Gwadar port into a permanent Chinese military facility — a proposal Islamabad had resisted for more than a decade.
According to the report, Pakistan sought guarantees from China against potential US political, economic, or diplomatic retaliation over the move. Islamabad also asked Beijing to provide military modernisation assistance to help maintain Pakistan’s defence and intelligence capabilities in competition with India.
All About Sea-based Nuclear Second-strike Capability
A sea-based nuclear second-strike capability is a country’s ability to launch a retaliatory nuclear attack even after suffering a devastating first strike. It relies on nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), which remain hidden underwater and are extremely difficult to detect or destroy.
The capability acts as a powerful deterrent, ensuring that no enemy can eliminate a nation’s nuclear arsenal in a surprise attack. To maintain it, countries must keep at least one SSBN on patrol at all times, backed by advanced stealth and secure communication systems.
A sea-based nuclear second-strike capability is held by only six nations that operate nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The United States maintains a large, highly sophisticated fleet of Ohio-class vessels, while Russia relies on its modern Borei-class submarines to patrol the Arctic and Pacific. China secures its deterrent using Type 094 submarines equipped with long-range ballistic missiles. In Europe, France and the United Kingdom base their entire nuclear strategies on the ocean, with each nation ensuring at least one submarine is permanently on patrol at all times.
India achieved its capability through the domestic Arihant-class program, which continues to expand to ensure a continuous deterrence rotation. Beyond these big powers, Israel is widely believed to maintain a regional second-strike capability using modified, conventional Dolphin-class submarines.
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
