Was Pakistan's decision to build nuclear weapons justified by the events of 2025?

[BouncerGuy]

The 2025 India-Pakistan crisis, triggered by the Pahalgam attack and escalating into missile strikes (Operation Sindoor) and retaliatory operations (Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos), has reignited debates over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program.

Nuclear Deterrence in Action:​

Pakistan's full-spectrum deterrence doctrine, including tactical nukes like the Nasr missile, was developed to counter India's conventional superiority and Cold Start strategy.

During the May 2025 conflict, both sides exchanged missile strikes but refrained from an all-out war, suggesting that nuclear threats imposed restraint.

However, the crisis exposed doctrinal instability, as India shifted away from its No First Use (NFU) policy, escalating risks of miscalculation.

Youm-e-Takbir & Pakistan’s Nuclear Legacy:​

Youm-e-Takbir (May 28) commemorates Pakistan’s 1998 nuclear tests, conducted in direct response to India's nuclear tests earlier that month. The 2025 crisis reinforced the belief among Pakistani strategists that nuclear weapons remain essential for national security.

Yet, critics argue that nuclearization has failed to resolve Kashmir, as both nations continue to engage in proxy wars and limited conflicts under the nuclear umbrella.

Conclusion​

While Pakistan’s nukes may have deterred a larger war, the 2025 crisis shows that deterrence alone cannot ensure lasting peace. The risk of escalation remains, especially as both nations modernize their arsenals and adopt more aggressive postures.

Please vote in the poll and share your views on this.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Pakistanis are free to construct their own narratives, but the tendency to resort to shameless nuclear threats after just a few days of conventional conflict is deeply concerning. It reflects a profound sense of insecurity and irresponsibility on your part as a nation and a clear lack of confidence in your conventional capabilities. It begs the question if you as a nation cannot sustain conventional wars for even 2-3 days and have to embarrassingly resort to nuclear threats putting lives of millions of people in a danger, why even go for such misadventures and why not rather commit to strengthening peace in the region instead.

As an Indian however, I feel a sense of gratitude for Pakistan’s laughably erratic behavior. Why? Because despite India’s remarkable growth and global rise, we have at times shown a tendency to grow complacent especially in the face of subtle and long-term challenges like China. Our military build-up began with Pakistan in mind but evolved to address the much larger strategic threat posed by China. Ironically, it is Pakistan’s repeated misadventures that have kept us alert and accelerated the strengthening of our defense preparedness timely and essential steps for the larger geopolitical contest that awaits us. Had Pakistan been a peaceful and cooperative neighbor, there’s a real chance we might have drifted into a false sense of permanent peace only to be rudely awakened by Chinese aggression in the future.

In that sense, Pakistan serves as a sort of inoculation, a low-grade but persistent threat that boosts our strategic immunity, ensuring that we are not caught off guard when it truly matters.

 

[straighttalk]

Pak is nuke nude..has 0 industrial base and poor science and technology resources...it's Chinese nukes and now either they are not operational or the control codes are held by USA or China ..too risky to keep the nudes with Pak army given it's close ties to terrorists who hate USA and Israel...India is non entity here.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

They aren't needed against India when you realise how India was neutralised by Chinese missiles combined with PAF skill and uncles in villages slapping down Indian drones with batta chappal.

This type of enemy doesn't need nukes.

 

[Rana]

The Nuke clearly is for Dajjal Israel.

India tou dou chappairo ki maar hai.

 

[IronShield]

Pak is nuke nude..has 0 industrial base and poor science and technology resources...it's Chinese nukes and now either they are not operational or the control codes are held by USA or China ..too risky to keep the nudes with Pak army given it's close ties to terrorists who hate USA and Israel...India is non entity here.

You do realise it was Pakistan who gave European nuclear designs to China.... There is a reason why there is such deep trust between the two nations.

 

[straighttalk]

You do realise it was Pakistan who gave European nuclear designs to China.... There is a reason why there is such deep trust between the two nations.

Here man..let me put it to rest for you ..China is the 3rd most advanced technology country previously and rapidly becoming. No 1...it doesn't need your help. But don't trust my word..here is AI summary

 

[straighttalk]

The Nuke clearly is for Dajjal Israel.

India tou dou chappairo ki maar hai.

Nest time tell your ministers not to cry and embarrass themselves in international media threatening nuclear war whenever modi mentions Pakistan.

 

[HalBass9]

Nest time tell your ministers not to cry and embarrass themselves in international media threatening nuclear war whenever modi mentions Pakistan.

Why?

Before you go around barking orders, try shooting down a Pakistani jet first, like they did with yours.

 

[Suleiman]

The Nuke clearly is for Dajjal Israel.

India tou dou chappairo ki maar hai.

Pakistan had India on the ropes and the referee in red white and blue uniform had to step in.

Am glad saner heads prevailed and Pak didn’t inflict irreparable damage on the Indian population. Many lives were saved by our maturity and the message was still sent by shooting down and eliminating their men in the IAF. Condolences to the families if their hearts were in the right place

India have heavy censorship on their media channels and even banned plenty of YouTube content exposing facts that may be tough to digest that is why we are not seeing them admit to much. Case of pretending the lion isn’t there by closing your eyes.

They may be paying agents on here as well to spread false propaganda and change the narrative but rest of the world sees Pak winning this 70-30 if not 60-40, doesn’t really matter to me im just glad it’s over

 

[Rana]

Nest time tell your ministers not to cry and embarrass themselves in international media threatening nuclear war whenever modi mentions Pakistan.

Zyada “ghus ghus” kiya tou aik de bhi denghe!

Don’t push your luck!