Rajnath: India’s no-first-use nuke policy depends on circumstances

India is “firmly committed” to its ‘no-first-use’ of nuclear weapons policy but future of the security doctrine will depend on the circumstances, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday, in remarks which came in the midst of rising tension between New Delhi and Islamabad over Kashmir.

Singh made the comments after visiting Rajasthan’s Pokhran -- the site of India’s nuclear tests in 1974 during Indira Gandhi’s regime and in 1998 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.

“Pokhran is the area which witnessed Atal Ji’s firm resolve to make India a nuclear power and yet remain firmly committed to the doctrine of ‘no-first use’. India has strictly adhered to this doctrine. What happens in future depends on the circumstances,”Singh tweeted.

In Pokhran, Singh also paid glowing tributes to Vajpayee on his first death anniversary. “India attaining the status of a responsible nuclear nation became a matter of national pride for every citizen of this country. The nation will remain indebted to the greatness of Atal Ji,” he said. As Singh’s comments raised eyebrows, the Congress said the government should spell out its nuclear policy clearly and remove any ambiguity over it.

In November 2016, the then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar too had expressed reservations over India’s no-first use doctrine on nuclear weapons.

The timing of Singh’s comments assume significance as they came in the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP Rajya Sabha leader Subramanian Swamy tweeted in response to Singh’s statement saying he is correct in warning about a possible review of Vajpayee’s no first use of nuclear weapons.