(Image source from: Reuters)
In 2024, Pakistan requested help from its long-time ally, China, to develop a sea-based nuclear second-strike ability. Although China had already given Pakistan weapons and financial aid, it declined to provide what is seen as a key part of a nuclear defense system, as stated in secret documents shared by Drop Site News. China called Pakistan’s appeal "unreasonable" and warned that granting it would mean China was directly involved in spreading nuclear weapons in South Asia. The documents also mentioned that Pakistan set several conditions for China to make the deep-water Gwadar port a permanent military base, a plan Pakistan had resisted for over ten years. The report indicated that Pakistan wanted assurances from China to protect it from possible retaliation by the US, whether political, economic, or diplomatic. Additionally, Pakistan asked for China's help in modernizing its military to compete with India.
A sea-based nuclear second-strike capability allows a nation to launch a nuclear attack in retaliation even after facing a heavy first strike. It relies on submarines called SSBNs that are powered by nuclear energy, remaining stealthy underwater and hard to find or destroy. This capability serves as a strong deterrent, preventing enemies from eradicating a nation’s nuclear weapons in a surprise attack. To ensure this ability, countries have to keep at least one SSBN on active patrol all the time, supported by advanced technology for stealth and secure communication. Only six countries possess a sea-based nuclear second-strike capability with nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. The United States has a considerable and advanced fleet of Ohio-class submarines, while Russia uses its modern Borei-class submarines to patrol the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. China relies on Type 094 submarines with long-range ballistic missiles for its deterrence. In Europe, France and the United Kingdom base their entire nuclear strategies at sea, with each ensuring at least one submarine is always on patrol.
India has developed this capability through its domestic Arihant-class program, which is continually growing to maintain a steady rotation for deterrence. Besides these major powers, it is widely believed that Israel has a regional second-strike capability using modified versions of conventional Dolphin-class submarines.
