No First Use Policy

No First Use Policy

No first use (NFU) refers to a pledge or a policy by a nuclear power to not use nuclear weapons as a means of warfare unless first attacked by an adversary. India adopted a no first use policy after its nuclear tests in 1998. In August 1999, the Indian government released a draft of the doctrine which asserts that nuclear weapons are solely for deterrence and that India will pursue a policy of "retaliation only." The document also maintains that India "will not be the first to initiate a nuclear first strike, but will respond with punitive retaliation should deterrence fail" and that decisions to authorize the use of nuclear weapons would be made by the Prime Minister or his 'designated successor(s).

India remains committed to its no first use policy as was seen in the 2001- 2002 standoff between India and Pakistan. Though President Zardari has also expressed that Pakistan will not be the first to use nuclear weapons, Pakistan has not formally subscribed to no first use policy India has not signed the nuclear Non Proliferation treaty that aims to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons and encourage disarmament and the right to peacefully use nuclear technology. It does not think that the fact that the NPT has been extended is commensurate with India’s longer term strategic interests. This has prevented India from obtaining commercial nuclear fuel, nuclear power plant components and services from the international market, thereby forcing India to develop its own fuel, components and services for nuclear power generation.