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Pak should think of basing
nuclear arms at sea: Navy chief

Pakistan should consider a sea-based nuclear delivery system but without getting into an arms race with India, Pakistan naval chief Admiral Abdul Aziz Mirza has said.

"Any country that has developed a nuclear capability has to then think of the delivery system...it is obvious that anyone who has that capability will consider a sea-based system along with land-based and aircraft-launched nuclear weapons that form the traditional nuclear triad. It's logical to at least consider sea-basing those weapons," he told Jane's Defence Weekly.

Mirza said Pakistan navy is seeking to strengthen its capabilities without entering into an arms race with India.

"There is no desire on our part to match them [India] ship-for-ship because that is not required." Rather, he said, Pakistan's "strategy is to have some deterrence in certain areas - selective deterrence.

"Ours is a small, modest navy with a budget this year of about $ 400 million and comprising three main components - aviation, surface and sub-surface," he said.

"At the moment the sub-surface and aviation portions are very well balanced. What we require is the induction of more surface ships."

PTI

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