Govt unlikely to change its no-first-use N-policy

NEW DELHI: Government is unlikely to change its no-first-use nuclear doctrine which was adopted in 1998 although a suggestion to this effect was made in Parliament by former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

Pressing for a revision of the nuclear policy "with a sense of urgency", particularly of the no-first-use doctrine formulated by the NDA government, Singh had said yesterday "...(Nuclear) policy of the NDA is greatly in need of revision ...Please hold broader consultations," and added, "Time will not wait for us."

Asked about the remarks, National Security Advisor Shivshanker Menon said, "I have seen the suggestion and I think we will actually look at it.

"We will also ask him what he sees as an alternative. Then we will see where we take it from there."

After its nuclear tests in 1998, India adopted the policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons.

However, India's nuclear policy currently states that even though there will be no-first-use of nuclear weapons by it, "nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage".

Delving in the nuclear issue, Singh had also said while India has only 50-60 warheads, Pakistan has 100-110 warheads whose location even the US was not aware of.