A big claim has come to light regarding a possible strategic deal between Pakistan and China. According to the report of America-based independent media outlet Drop Site News, Pakistan had demanded nuclear submarines from China which have second strike capability. In return, Pakistan was ready to allow China to use Gwadar Port as a permanent military base. It has been claimed in the report that this information has come to light on the basis of review of confidential military documents of Pakistan.

Second strike capability means such a power in which a country is capable of carrying out a retaliatory nuclear attack even after the first nuclear attack of the enemy. For this, nuclear submarines (SSBNs) equipped with ballistic missiles are usually used, which can avoid enemy attack by hiding in the depths of the sea and can retaliate later.

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The conversation took place in 2024

According to the report, this demand was made in the military talks between Pakistan and China in 2024. At that time, the then Army Chief General Asim Munir was leading the talks from Pakistan’s side. It is reported that Pakistan had assured China that it would allow Gwadar Port to be developed as a permanent military base for the Chinese Army. Instead he demanded submarines with nuclear capability.

If Pakistan had got this capability, it would have achieved the “nuclear triad”, that is, it would have been capable of carrying out nuclear attacks through all three means: land, air and sea. However, according to the report, China considered this demand unreasonable and the talks could not proceed further.

Pakistan’s nuclear power increased with China’s help

The report said that in the 1970s and 1980s, China had provided great help to Pakistan in developing its nuclear program. It is said that China had also provided highly enriched uranium, nuclear weapons designs and later M-11 ballistic missiles to Pakistan. Through these weapons and technologies, Pakistan developed the capability to launch nuclear attacks from land and air.

attempt at maritime nuclear capability

However, Pakistan did not have the capability to launch a nuclear attack from the sea for a long time. In 2017, Pakistan claimed successful testing of submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM). But experts believed that this capability was at the initial level. In 2014, Pakistan had signed a big deal for eight Hangor class submarines from China. Some of these submarines were believed to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The first submarine, PNS Hangor, was inducted into service in Sanya, China this year.

Trying to strike a balance between China and America

The report also said that Pakistan has been trying to create a strategic balance with both China and America in the last few years. During the era of General Bajwa, Pakistan was closer to China and the CPEC project, whereas under the leadership of Asim Munir, Pakistan moved towards improving relations with America. Although the report claims that Pakistan was ready to make big strategic deals with China even by 2024, but its conditions could not be met.

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