The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on September 26 is an occasion to reflect on the global struggle for peace and security. While the idea of a world without nuclear weapons is an admirable one, the path to achieving it is fraught with contradictions and double standards. Pakistan, as a responsible nuclear power, supports the goal of disarmament but emphasizes that it must be achieved fairly and equitably. In a world where nuclear weapons are wielded as tools of global dominance, selective disarmament risks creating more instability than it resolves.
Pakistan’s nuclear policy is one of deterrence, not aggression. Unlike nations that use their nuclear capabilities to project power and influence, Pakistan views its nuclear arsenal as a means of safeguarding its sovereignty and maintaining regional stability. It has consistently upheld international non-proliferation norms and has ensured that its nuclear assets are secure and never compromised. Despite this, Pakistan remains committed to the global goal of nuclear disarmament. However, its support for this goal is conditional on the principle of non-discrimination. All nuclear-armed states must commit to disarmament simultaneously. To expect Pakistan to disarm unilaterally, or as part of a region-specific disarmament plan, would leave it vulnerable to threats from more powerful nations, particularly India.
At the heart of the global disarmament debate lies a fundamental hypocrisy. Many of the loudest advocates for disarmament are the same nations that possess the largest nuclear arsenals. These countries wield their nuclear weapons as tools of global dominance, all the while urging others to renounce them. This selective disarmament rhetoric is used by powerful nations to preserve their strategic advantage, while weaker nations are left vulnerable. Israel’s nuclear program is one such example of this hypocrisy. Despite possessing a significant nuclear arsenal, Israel has never officially confirmed its status as a nuclear power. This deliberate ambiguity allows it to evade international scrutiny, even as it continues to engage in aggressive policies, particularly in Palestine. For countries like Pakistan, this selective silence undermines the credibility of global disarmament efforts.
India’s nuclear ambitions present another challenge to the global disarmament agenda. Despite its involvement in state-sponsored violence in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and its connections to international terrorism and narcotics networks, India continues to be courted for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Granting India access to nuclear materials and technology without addressing its human rights violations sends a dangerous message: strategic interests trump human rights and global peace. Pakistan has long warned of the dangers of allowing India to expand its nuclear capabilities unchecked. Without addressing the underlying tensions between India and Pakistan, global disarmament efforts risk creating further instability in South Asia.
Pakistan’s position on nuclear disarmament is clear: it supports the goal, but only if it is pursued globally and without discrimination. All nuclear-armed states must disarm simultaneously to ensure that no one country is left vulnerable to the strategic ambitions of others. Disarmament must also be accompanied by broader efforts to resolve conflicts, reduce regional tensions, and build mutual trust. Pakistan continues to advocate for comprehensive dialogue with all stakeholders, both regional and global. This dialogue must go beyond nuclear disarmament to address the root causes of instability, including territorial disputes, military imbalances, and violations of international law. Without addressing these issues, any disarmament efforts will be incomplete and ineffective.
The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons calls on all nations to confront the hypocrisy of selective disarmament and work toward genuine global peace. Pakistan remains committed to this goal, but it will not sacrifice its national security for the sake of an uneven disarmament process. True global disarmament can only be achieved when all nations, big and small, are held to the same standards and work together to build a safer, more peaceful world.