The recent mist activities of Iran has begun yielding worries in the region and has Pakistan in a situation that has to reconsider on its missile defence system. The more Tehran shows off new military might, the more Islamabad must wonder if it can stand prepared for a missile threat from the West.
Geographical location, of course, is an important factor, and Pakistan has the great hardship of having situated directly between India and Afghanistan. The country that has India, Afghanistan and Iran as its neighbours, Pakistan is an important region in both South Asia and the Middle East. Although relations with Iran have been mostly friendly in terms of reciprocal religious and cultural connection problems militarisation of the region due to Iran’s missile programme makes it a factor of concern for Pakistan’s security.
Iran has advanced its missile technology in the last few years much as it has stepped up manufacturing and development of its arms. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has manufactured different models of ballistic missiles with some of them with a range of over two thousand kilometres. The promotion of these organisations is not simply bluffing; it reflects a real progression of Iran’s capacity to shape the regional environment and exert force. Therefore, for those countries including Pakistan that fall within these ranges the development of these capabilities cannot be over looked.
In the past Pakistan devoted much effort and investment to develop a potent first-strike missile system, which primarily targeted India. The two missile series Haft and Shaheen demonstrates Pakistan’s intention of continuing to have a second-strike capability.
Nevertheless, as Iran becomes more menacing in developing its missile capacity, Pakistan needs to redirect at least some of that attention to brainstorming about how to make its missile systems even stronger.
At present, Pakistan has quite a simplistic ballistic missile system and possesses no air defence shield. Although the country has some systems for example, the LY-80 (HQ-16) in air defence, these are less elaborate than the missile defence systems which some of the other both hostile and friendly possess countries of Pakistan possess.
There is no alternative for efficient missile defence other than putting into practice early reporting systems, accurate radar equipment, and globally superior interceptor missiles. The level of integration and the technological advanced features require a large investment and a lot of knowledge.
While the problem is a technological one, the reality for Pakistan is that it is also a strategic one. There is a number of more and less influential state and non-state actors in the region and all of them may upset the security situation in a twinkle of an eye. This growing clout also introduces a new chance of volatility as Iran’s military strength increases. Any souring of relations, because of border provocations or shifts of regional balance of power, may bring us to the situation where threats with missiles are no longer just hypothetical but are already real.
Besides, the internal security challenges, consisting of different militant groups and arresting activity along the borders of Pakistan, especially with Afghanistan and Iran, add to the problems. In this regard, the Pakistan’s missile defence policy should be multi layered, or should include not only the threats posed by state actors but also that coming from non-state actors who could take advantage of the emerging situation in the region.
Technological improvements within the I. A. F and the potential of a missile threat from Iran has led for a reconsideration of priority within Pakistan. Despite the fact that the main threat is considered to be posed by India, the changing character of threats requires a more encompassing view. The country cannot afford to sit idle and overlook all the threats that may emit from the western neighbour. This trend of thought does not entail completely eradicating the main goal of containing India, but to use it as a basis to add new tasks for addressing new threats.
Pakistan’s foreign policy is another component that forms part of the premise to its missile defence policy. In the past, Islamabad has kept the policy of non-interaction in Middle Eastern region not involving itself in the disputes between Iran and its enemies like Saudi Arabia. Pakistan might gravitate towards the neighbouring countries with similar concerns about Iran’s emerging missile prowess. Such alliances might make it possible for the country to acquire sophisticated missile defence technologies and support, but it means disturbing Iran.
Thus, this article concludes that for Pakistan, Iran’s spiralling missile capability becomes a major problem. The future Pakistan requires a sound missile defence policy in order to safeguard its nascent nuclear weapons capability from the Iranian threat and to advance its regional interests. This must be done in parallel in terms of the adoption of technology, execution of partnerships, as well as diplomatic relations. Through effectively countering these challenges, Pakistan was likely to protect its sovereignty and balance of power in the region a in a more successful manner.
