# *Detailed SUMMARY of the article "Fire and air" by F.S. Aijazuddin, Published in Dawn on June 5th, 2025:* The article examines the *nuclear strategies* of *India* and *Pakistan*, highlighting how both nations joined the *nuclear club* in the *1990s* and developed distinct doctrines for *nuclear warfare*. The author argues that only *fools* or *governments* don't fear *nuclear conflict*, as *governments* protect themselves while *ordinary citizens* remain vulnerable. Modern *nuclear tactics* have rendered traditional *civil defense* preparations like *drills* and *mass evacuations* ineffective, with *nuclear states* following the *USSR's 1960s strategy*: protect *leadership first*, *essential workforce second*, and *general population third*. Unlike *Hiroshima* and *Nagasaki* which were *city-specific*, future attacks would be *target-specific* using *tactical nuclear weapons* designed for *contained strikes*. *India's nuclear doctrine* was developed by *K. Subrahmanyam* in the *2000s*, based on three principles: *No First Use (NFU)* - India won't launch first but will retaliate and may use *chemical/biological weapons*; *Credible Minimum Deterrence* - weapons to discourage attacks; and *Massive Retaliation* - complete annihilation of enemy capabilities. Only *PM Modi* as head of *India's Nuclear Command Authority* can authorize *nuclear attacks*, not the *DGMO*. *Pakistan's strategy* is managed by the *National Command Authority*, a *civilian-cum-military body*, with *Lt-Gen K.A. Kidwai* as the strategic advisor. *Pakistan* has identified four *red lines* for *nuclear deployment*: *Spatial threshold* (territory loss), *Military threshold* (destruction of forces), *Economic threshold* (economic strangulation like *Indus Waters Treaty* suspension), and *Political threshold* (internal destabilization like *India's covert terrorism* in *Balochistan*). According to *CSIS*, *India* has over *180 nuclear warheads* while *Pakistan* possesses over *170*, with *explosive yields* up to *300 kilotons* - *20 times* more powerful than the *Hiroshima bomb*. *India* relies on *Russian*, *Israeli*, and *US* technological support, while *Pakistan* depends on *China*. The article criticizes *Indian MPs* sent abroad as *misguided missiles*, particularly *Dr. Shashi Tharoor* who offended hosts in *Colombia* and *President Trump* in the *US*. The author reveals that *S. Jaishankar*, *India's External Affairs Minister*, is the son of *K. Subrahmanyam* and seems determined to test his father's *nuclear strategy* on *Pakistani soil*. Both countries remain in *suspended animation* with their *DGMOs* implementing force withdrawals to *pre-Pahalgam* positions. # *Easy/Short SUMMARY*: *India* and *Pakistan* joined the *nuclear club* in the *1990s* with distinct doctrines. *India* follows *No First Use*, *Credible Minimum Deterrence*, and *Massive Retaliation* principles, while *Pakistan* has four *red lines* for *nuclear deployment*. *India* has *180+ warheads*, *Pakistan* has *170+*, both *20 times* more powerful than *Hiroshima*. Only *PM Modi* can authorize *Indian nuclear attacks*. *S. Jaishankar*, son of *India's nuclear doctrine* creator, appears ready to test the strategy on *Pakistani soil*. # *SOLUTIONS of The Problem*: ## *1. Strengthen Nuclear Communication* Establish *direct hotlines* between *Nuclear Command Authorities* to prevent miscalculation and accidental war. ## *2. Implement Confidence Building Measures* Regular *military commander meetings* and *joint exercises* to reduce tensions and misunderstandings. ## *3. Enhance Early Warning Systems* Develop *advanced detection systems* to distinguish between *accidental launches* and *deliberate attacks*. ## *4. Create Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers* Establish *bilateral centers* for sharing information about *nuclear incidents* and *technical malfunctions*. ## *5. Revise Nuclear Doctrines* Update *outdated strategies* to reflect modern realities and reduce *first-strike temptations*. ## *6. Strengthen International Oversight* Engage *UN*, *IAEA*, and *major powers* to monitor and mediate *South Asian nuclear tensions*. ## *7. Promote Track-II Diplomacy* Encourage *non-governmental dialogue* between *strategic experts* and *former officials* from both countries. ## *8. Address Root Causes* Resolve underlying issues like *Kashmir*, *terrorism*, and *water disputes* that could trigger *nuclear escalation*. ## *9. Develop Nuclear Safety Protocols* Implement stringent *security measures* to prevent *nuclear materials* from falling into *terrorist hands*. ## *10. Foster Regional Cooperation* Create *South Asian nuclear security framework* similar to *European models* for *arms control*. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article*: - *India* and *Pakistan* joined the *nuclear club* in the *1990s*. - *USSR's 1960s strategy*: protect *leadership first*, *workforce second*, *population third*. - *India's nuclear doctrine* developed by *K. Subrahmanyam* in the *2000s*. - *India* has over *180 nuclear warheads* according to *CSIS*. - *Pakistan* possesses over *170 nuclear warheads*. - *Nuclear warheads* have *explosive yields* up to *300 kilotons*. - Modern warheads are *20 times* more powerful than *Hiroshima bomb*. - Only *PM Modi* can authorize *Indian nuclear attacks*. - *Lt-Gen K.A. Kidwai* is *Pakistan's* strategic nuclear advisor. - *S. Jaishankar* is the son of *K. Subrahmanyam*. # *IMPORTANT Facts and Figures out of the article*: - *Hiroshima bomb* killed *200,000+ people* in *1945* (*Atomic Archive*, 2024). - *Global nuclear warheads* total *12,512* across *9 countries* (*SIPRI*, 2024). - *Pakistan* has *world's fastest-growing nuclear arsenal* (*Bulletin of Atomic Scientists*, 2024). - *India-Pakistan* came close to *nuclear war* in *1999* and *2002* (*Carnegie*, 2024). - *Nuclear winter* could kill *2 billion people* globally (*Nature*, 2024). - *South Asia* has *25%* of world's population at *nuclear risk* (*UNODA*, 2024). # *MCQs from the Article*: ### 1. *Who developed India's nuclear doctrine in the 2000s?* A. S. Jaishankar *B. K. Subrahmanyam* C. K.A. Kidwai D. Narendra Modi ### 2. *How many nuclear warheads does India currently possess?* A. Over 150 *B. Over 180* C. Over 200 D. Over 170 ### 3. *What is Pakistan's spatial threshold for nuclear deployment?* A. Economic strangulation *B. Loss of territory* C. Political destabilization D. Military destruction ### 4. *How many times more powerful are modern warheads than Hiroshima bomb?* A. 10 times B. 15 times *C. 20 times* D. 25 times ### 5. *Who is S. Jaishankar in relation to K. Subrahmanyam?* A. Student B. Colleague *C. Son* D. Successor # *VOCABULARY*: 1. *Macabre* (خوفناک) – Disturbing or horrifying in a gruesome way 2. *Pennants* (جھنڈیاں) – Flags or banners, especially triangular ones 3. *Deterrence* (روک تھام) – Prevention through fear of consequences 4. *Retaliate* (جوابی حملہ) – Strike back in response to an attack 5. *Annihilate* (تباہ کرنا) – Destroy completely or defeat utterly 6. *Arsenal* (اسلحہ خانہ) – Collection of weapons or military equipment 7. *Warheads* (بم کے سر) – Explosive parts of missiles or rockets 8. *Kilotons* (ہزار ٹن) – Unit measuring explosive power of nuclear weapons 9. *Proliferation* (پھیلاؤ) – Rapid increase or spread of something 10. *Flaunts* (دکھاوا) – Display ostentatiously or show off 11. *Suspended animation* (معلق حالت) – State of temporary inactivity 12. *Umbrage* (ناراضگی) – Offense or resentment at perceived slight 13. *Condoled* (تعزیت) – Expressed sympathy for someone's loss 14. *Riled* (غصہ دلانا) – Made angry or irritated 15. *Incredulity* (بے اعتباری) – Unwillingness to believe something 16. *Francophone* (فرانسیسی بولنے والا) – French-speaking person 17. *Ideological* (نظریاتی) – Based on particular beliefs or ideas 18. *Militant* (جنگجو) – Aggressive or combative in supporting cause 19. *Tactical* (حکمت عملی) – Relating to immediate military actions 20. *Threshold* (حد) – Point of entry or beginning of something 📢 *Attention Please!* We appreciate your commitment to acquiring knowledge through our summaries. Please be reminded not to remove the attribution label affixed to this article. It is crucial to acknowledge the source and the effort invested in creating this summary. We discourage any unauthorized distribution without proper credit. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 🔍 ⚡ *Explore More Summaries, Solutions, and Vocabulary Meanings* 💡 Join our WhatsApp Channel for timely and comprehensive summaries of the latest articles, along with well-crafted solutions and helpful vocabulary meanings. Click the link below to join now 🔗 [Dawn Article Summaries](https://cssmcqs.com/dawn-editorials-articles-summary-for-students-pdf-download/) *WhatsApp Channel Link*: [https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7tT3o35fLnJeFbpS2y) --- *dawn.com* *Fire and air* *F.S. Aijazuddin* *5–6 minutes* ONE has to be either a fool or in government not to fear a nuclear conflict. Fools need not worry; they live in their own paradise. Governments make provision for their safety in case sirens blow. It is we — the citizenry of nuclear states — who are unprotected, when the doomsday button is pushed. Modern tactics have taught nations that conventional civil defence preparations such as drills, blackouts and mass evacuation would be ineffective in the event of a nuclear attack. Every nuclear state, therefore, has developed its own strategy. In essence, it mirrors the priorities defined by the USSR in the 1960s: "to protect the leadership first, the essential work force second and the remainder of the population third". Contaminated survivors would nevertheless need to be fed, housed and medicated. Unlike Hiroshima and Nagasaki which were city-specific, any future nuclear attack would be target-specific. No one would have time to relocate, only retaliate. Today, single bombs have been replaced by tactical nuclear weapons. These are "short-range nuclear weapons designed for more contained strikes". Ever since India and Pakistan joined the macabre nuclear club in the 1990s, their strategies have hung, like fluttering pennants, for all to see. Both countries are in a state of suspended animation. India's nuclear doctrine was developed in the 2000s by K. Subrahmanyam, a former civil servant, regarded as "the doyen of India's strategic affairs community". It balances on three principles. One, no first use (NFU): India will not be the first to launch a nuclear attack. It will only retaliate. It will, however, use chemical or biological weapons, if need be. Two, credible minimum deterrence: India's nuclear weapons are to discourage others from attacking India. Three, massive retaliation: India's retaliation to a first-strike will be to 'annihilate' its enemy's capabilities. The decision to approve a nuclear attack (or not) can be taken only by PM Modi, as head of the political council of India's Nuc­lear Command Authority. It is not (regardless of what the Indian foreign secretary was told to say) at the discretion of its DGMO. And Pakistan's strategy? Responsibility for "the command, control, and operational decisions regarding Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme and strategic assets" is vested in its National Command Authority, a civilian-cum-military body. Pakistan's equivalent of Subrahmanyam is retired Lt-Gen K.A. Kidwai, adviser to the NCA. He has identified four 'red lines' that could trigger a deployment of Pakistan's nuclear armoury: spatial threshold (loss of territory); military threshold (destruction of its land, sea or air forces); Economic threshold (any action that might choke Pakistan's economy, such as water terror — for example, the Indus Waters Treaty's suspension); and the political threshold (internal political destabilisation or disharmony, such as India's covert terrorism in Balochistan). Deterrence remains their capstone. According to the CSIS, "India is currently estimated to have more than 180 nuclear warheads."] Pakistan's arsenal is said to have over 170. These warheads have "explosive yields of up to 300 kilotons, or 20 times that of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima". India relies on Russian, Israeli and US technological support; Pakistan looks to China. India and Pakistan have enough missiles capable of delivering nuclear warheads that would leave both countries devastated, turning their citizens (as the dying Cleopatra said) into "fire and air". 'Disarmament' and 'non-proliferation' are two words erased from the blackboard of nuclear states. Less is no longer more. While India hides behind the fig leaf of its NFU policy, Pakistan flaunts a 'No NFU' posture. No more Mister Nice Guy. For the moment, both are in a state of suspen­ded animation. Their DGMOs continue to implement a withdrawal of their forces to a pre-Pahalgam situation. The misguided missiles of Indian MPs propelled abroad to advocate India's cause have been received with polite incredulity and unexpected responses. Dr Shashi Tharoor took umbrage when his Colombian hosts condoled the deaths of Pakistani casualties, rather than Indian victims. In the US, Tharoor riled President Trump by comparing him unfavourably with former presidents Bush senior and junior, Clinton and Obama. Tharoor, a Francophone, should have heeded the French philosopher J.J. Rousseau's advice: "Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong." On his return, a bruised Tharoor may find the Congress door closed to him, and the BJP one locked from the inside. As mentioned, K. Subrahmanyam was the ideological father of India's nuclear doctrine. Few know that S. Jaishankar, India's militant minister for external affairs, is his son. The son seems determined to test his father's nuclear strategy — on Pakistani soil. The writer is an author. www.fsaijazuddin.pk Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2025