Talking in the context of India-Russia deal for S-400 missile systems, he said India had been working on the development of a multi-layer ballistic missile defense (BMD) system for over a decade now. Besides the S-400 deal, India has large-scale cooperation with Israel for the development of the BMD.
"Much hype has been created around this particular technology induction and some have gone to the extent of calling it a game changer for South Asia," he said, adding that "this was wrong".
Lt Gen Kidwai said Pakistan had already possessed "cost-effective solutions" to take care of India's BMD in the shape of MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle) capability and four categories of cruise missiles.
He said India's BMD only had symbolic value and "Pakistan's answer (to it) is available today".
Pakistan says second strike capability attained
In March this year, Pakistan carried out another successful test of the nuclear-capable Submarine Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) Babur and claimed to have attained 'Credible Second Strike Capability'.
In a media release army said the 450-km-range Babur missile was test-fired from "an underwater dynamic platform, which successfully engaged its target with precise accuracy, meeting all the flight parameters".
SLCM Babur III was originally tested in January 2017 and it is a sea-based variant of ground-launched cruise missile Babur-II, which was successfully tested in December 2016.
The military had at the time of Babur-III's first test said the second strike capability.
The second strike capability, which is believed to be the peak of deterrence strategy, means the possession of the ability to retaliate to a nuclear attack even after a country's nuclear arsenal has been neutralized. It has long been a goal of Pakistan's nuclear planners. But, attaining the assured or credible capability was even a bigger challenge. The armed forces now say that they have attained a 'credible second strike capability' and in doing so they strengthened "the existing deterrence regime".
The second strike deterrent is normally placed on a nuclear submarine, but since Pakistan does not have one it is generally believed that the missile would be deployed on Agosta 90-B/Khalid Class diesel-electric submarines. Israeli had earlier done the same.
"The missile is capable of delivering various types of payloads and incorporates state of the art technologies including underwater controlled propulsion, advanced guidance and navigation features," the army said adding:
"Development of this capability also reflects Pakistan's response to provocative nuclear strategies and posture being pursued in the neighborhood through induction of nuclear submarines and ship-borne nuclear missiles, leading to nuclearization of Indian Ocean Region."
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