ISLAMABAD: Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said that Pakistan’s short range missile programme ‘NASR’ “puts cold water on cold start,” an Indian doctrine meant to launch swift attacks inside the country.
“Nasr puts ‘cold water’ on ‘cold start’ Gen Qamar was quoted as saying by the military’s media wing after he witnessed the training launch of the short range surface to surface ballistic missile.
Pakistan has developed the short range missile programme as low yield battle field deterent targeted at “mechanised forces like armed brigades and divisions.”
The programme is meant to counter India’s cold start doctrine that is intended to allow conventional forces to perform holding attacks in order to prevent nuclear retaliation from Pakistan in case of a conflict.
Gen Qamar appreciated the standard of training and operational preparedness of Army Strategic Force and congratulated the scientists and engineers on achieving this significant milestone towards the country’s credible deterrence capability.
He expressed his complete confidence in the effective command, control, safety and security of all strategic assets and measures being taken to augment these.
“You are our real heroes, the unseen, we owe you our gratitude”, he remarked.
War, the COAS continued, must be avoided at all costs saying Pakistan’s strategic capability was a guarantee of peace against a highly militarised and increasingly belligerent neighbour.
“Pakistan will go to any length to ensure regional peace and stability. We wholeheartedly support all government efforts at peace through dialogue. Our capability is only meant to ensure, no one thinks war remains an option,” he stressed.
Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Mazhar Jamil, Commander Army Strategic Force Command, Lieutenant General Mian Muhammad Hilal Hussain, Chairman NESCOM, Dr Nabeel Hayat Malik, scientists & engineers of strategic organisations also witnessed the launch.
Chairman JCSC, Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff had congratulated the strategic forces on the achievement, the statement said. “President and Prime Minister of Pakistan while conveying their appreciation have lauded the efforts of all those involved in the missile tests and trials.”
