Nuke button rests in the PM’s hands

The CCS, while announcing the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA), promised to ‘‘build and maintain a credible minimum deterrent.’’ The NCA will have a political council, headed by the Prime Minister, which will be the ‘‘sole body which can authorise the use of nuclear weapons.’’

Helping the Political Council will be an executive council chaired by the National Security Advisor that will feed the Political Council with all key inputs and also ‘‘execute the directives given by the Political Council.’’

While the nuclear button has been placed with the political leadership, the military structure was also formalised today with the CCS approving the appointment of a Commander-in-Chief for the newly established Strategic Forces Command, the body that will now take control, manage and administer all ‘‘strategic forces’’.

The decision to reiterate the ‘‘no-first-use’’ doctrine also puts to rest a school of thought in strategic circles that had been advocating its review. While a certain section of the country’s strategic leadership had called for adopting a ‘‘first-use’’ policy, the doctrine now banks on a ‘‘nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage.’’

The CCS, comprising the PM, the Home, Defence, External, Finance ministers along with the deputy chairman of the planning commission had a long list of ‘‘special invitees’’ who attended today’s meeting.

Besides the three service chiefs who gave extensive presentations on the pros and cons of the nuclear command and threat perceptions, other key figures including the defence secretary and National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra were also present.

Incidentally, the Air Force has already attached a senior air force officer — Air Marshal T M Asthana — in anticipation of a formal announcement of the Strategic Forces Command. Asthana, who had been moved from the Southern Air Command, had been attached to air headquarters holding charge of the Bangalore-based Air Force Training Command is now slated to take over as the first Commander-in-Chief of the new command.

While announcing the formal structure — eagerly awaited after a GoM had recommended it sometime ago — the CCS has reiterated its nuclear doctrine. Key points include a nuclear retaliatory attacks in the event of a major attack on India or Indian forces anywhere, be it nuclear, biological or chemical.

It reiterates it’s promise to maintain a moratorium on nuclear tests and a continuance of strict controls on export of nuclear and missile related materials and technologies.