[🇵🇰] Pakistan: Strategic Plans Division

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The command-and-control reforms of 1999 to 2001 established the Strategic Plans Division (SPD) as the secretariat of the National Command Authority (NCA). In this role, the SPD administers NCA policies over all of Pakistan’s nuclear and missile programs. Agencies administered by the SPD include the National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM), the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), and the National Development Complex (NDC).

The SPD exercises significant administrative authority over the research, development, production, and manufacturing of Pakistan’s ballistic and cruise missile arsenal. The International Institute for Strategic Studies also notes that the composition of the SPD, which is headed by an army three-star general, suggests a dominant army position in the SPD hierarchy.

 

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Strategic Plans Division Force (SPD Force) is a paramilitary force tasked with responsibility of safeguarding and protecting of nuclear materials as well as providing security to nation's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile and the strategic assets.

Formed as a security branch of the National Command Authority (NCA) in 2000, its leadership appointments directly comes from the Army HQ of the Pakistan Army with agency head serves its Director-General. Lieutenant-General Yusuf Jamal is its current director-general.

Historical background and role​

In 1990, the Combat Development Directorate was created by the Army GHQ in Rawalpindi, with Major-General Ziauddin Butt becoming its first director-general. The directorate concerning with nuclear weapons development and delivery mechanism reported directly to army chief or the chief of general staff. The combat development directorate functioned until 1998 with Lieutenant-General Zulfikar Ali Khan its final director when the strategic planning division was created as a security secretariat of the National Command Authority in 2000.

The Strategic Plans Division has its own paramilitary force that is responsible for providing provision of security to country's strategic sites and protecting the nuclear materials. The Strategic Plans Division Force is heavily armed, which is reflective of the anticipated capabilities of an adversary likely to attempt an assault against a nuclear material-holding sites.

The Strategic Plan Division also serves as a "program manager" of nation's strategic and deterrence program and provides guidance as well development on weapons production at the ministry of defense's national weapons laboratories to maintain the minimum credible deterrence.: 

Organization​

The leadership appointment of the Strategic Plans Division comes directly from the Army HQ in Rawalpindi. Designated as a Director-General, the general officer is a three-star rank who reports directly to chief of army staff. There are four security directorates for each strategic organization and each directorate is led by Brigadier.

Initially, the active-duty members of the Pakistan Armed Forces provided the security of the agency but the agency now has started hiring its own personnel. The selection standards in terms of intelligence and physical standards for these candidates are even higher than army due to very sensitive nature of their duty. At start, these recruits were trained at Pakistan Army's training centers but since 2012 SPD has been training these recruits in its own academy known as Pakistan’s Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Security (PCENS) located in Chakri near Rawalpindi. This training facility is modeled on US National Nuclear Security Administration's Federal Protective Forces academy.

Special Response Force​

Special Response Force (SRF) is the special forces unit of SPD Force with the strength of 25,000 personnel. SRF is based on training techniques of SSG and has retired SSG commandos as training staff.

 

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The Joint Services Headquarters formally proposed the establishment of the National Command Authority in April 1999.

Four broad components of the system were:

(i) the creation of a national command authority;

(ii) developmental control by a governing body;

(iii) strategic force command; and

(iv) secretariat for all these three commands.


Its formation was approved in October 1999.

The announcement of the establishment of the National Command Authority (NCA) finally came through the National Security Council (NSC) on 2 February 2000. This came exactly 20 months after Pakistan detonated its first nuclear devices in the Ras Koh Hills and Kharan Desert in Chagai, Balochistan on 28 and 30 May 1998.

The National Command Authority (NCA) is Pakistan's first formal strategic nuclear command and control organization. It comprises of the following persons:-

(i) Head of State (President);
(ii) Head of Government (Prime Minister);
(iii) Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee;
(iv) Chief of the Army Staff;
(v) Chief of the Air Staff;
(vi) Chief of the Naval Staff;
(vii) Federal Minister of Defense;
(viii) Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs;
(ix) Federal Minister of the Interior;
(x) Federal Minister of Finance & Economic Affairs;

The NCA is entrusted with the following tasks:

(i) to formulate doctrine and policy regarding Pakistan's nuclear weapons and strategic assets;

(ii) to exercise development and employment overall strategic nuclear forces and strategic organizations;

(iii) to safeguard, protect and secure Pakistan’s nuclear assets;

(iv) to supervise, command and control Pakistan’s nuclear assets;

(v) to minimize and prevent any accidental or unauthorized launch of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons;

(vi) to establish a foolproof security and safety web around Pakistan’s nuclear assets;

(vii) to be the sole and exclusive entity to authorize the use of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons in the defense of Pakistan;

(viii) to continuously endeavor to improve the safety, protection and security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets;

(ix) to continuously endeavor to improve the command and control system of Pakistan’s nuclear assets;

(x) to oversee the organization, management and regulation of Pakistan’s nuclear assets;

(xi) to make recommendations to the Government regarding any kind of matter that may concern Pakistan’s nuclear assets.

The NCA is currently trifurcated into the following divisions:

(i) the Strategic Plans Division, which also functions as its Secretariat;

(ii) the Development Control Committee; and

(iii) the Employment Control Committee;

· The Strategic Plans Division (SPD) is a military organization under the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) based at Chaklala Air Base in Rawalpindi. It was originally established in the Joint Services Headquarters (JSH) under the CJCSC. The SPD functions as the Secretariat for the NCA and perform functions relating to planning, coordination, and establishment of a reliable and effective C4I2 network.

The SPD consists of the following:-

(i) either senior-ranking military officer (Chairman), in all probability, either a Lieutenant-General, Air Marshal or Rear Admiral (it is currently led by Lt. Gen. Khalid Kidwai); and

(ii) other high-ranking military officers from the three services.

· The Development Control Committee (DCC) controls the development of strategic assets, including, nuclear warheads, delivery systems and strategic installations.

The DCC consists of the following:-

(i) the Head of the Government (Chairman);
(ii) the CJCSC (Deputy Chairman);
(iii) the COAS;
(iv) the CAS;
(v) the CNS;
(vi) the DG-SPD; and
(vii) the representatives of the strategic organizations and the scientific community.

There may be other ad-hoc members whose identity is kept secret. It may be that the Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, the Director-General, National Development Complex and the Director-General, Kahuta Research Laboratories may also be ex-officio members. These ad-hoc members would have an advisory role only.

· The Employment Control Committee (ECC) is the primary committee, which the Head of Government, the Commander-in-Chief, will consult before making a decision to authorize the use (employment) of nuclear weapons.

The ECC consists of the following:-

(i) Head of the Government (Chairman);
(ii) Minister of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Chairman);
(iii) Minister of Defense;
(iv) Minister of the Interior;
(v) Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC);
(vi) Chief of the Army Staff (COAS);
(vii) Chief of the Air Staff (CAS);
(viii) Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS);
(ix) Director-General of Strategic Plans Division (DG-SPD) (Secretary); and
(x) Technical advisers and others, as required by the Chairman.

The final decision making power rests with the Head of Government. In other words, in case there is no Prime Minister, then whosoever is the de facto Chief Executive of Pakistan will have the final decision-making power.

 

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Strategic Plans Division

It is headed by a three-star army general officer. It is established in the Joint Services Headquarters under the CJCSC to act as the Secretariat for the NCA and perform functions relating to planning, coordination, and establishment of a reliable command, control, communication, computers, and intelligence network (C4I).

It is responsible for formulating policy options (nuclear policy, strategy, and doctrine) for the NCA, implementing the NCA’s decisions, drafting strategic and operational plans for the deployment of strategic forces. Moreover, the SPD carries out the day-to-day management of Pakistan’s strategic forces, coordinates the activities of the different strategic organizations involved in the nuclear weapons program, and oversees budgetary, administrative, and security matters.

The SPD has eight directorates—including the Operations and Planning Directorate, the Computerized, Control, Command, Communication, Information, Intelligence and Surveillance Directorate (C4ISD), Strategic Weapons Development Directorate, and the Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs Directorate, Security division, which has a 25,000 strong force charged with guarding and protecting Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.


The Services’ Strategic Forces Command

The Services Strategic Forces Command is raised from all the three services (Army, Navy, and Airforce), which all have their respective strategic force commands. It is responsible for daily and tactical operational control of nuclear weapon delivery systems (the NCA is still responsible for overall strategic operational control). This operational control includes technical, training, and administrative control over missiles and delivery systems that would be used to deliver nuclear weapons.

Army Strategic Forces Command (ASFC)

• It Commands all land-based strategic nuclear forces with an estimated number of 12,000–15,000 persons.
• It has 60+ Surface-To-Surface Missile Launchers, 30 Ghauri Nuclear Medium Range Ballistic Missiles, 30+ Nuclear Short Range Ballistic Missiles: Ghaznavi, Abdali, Nasr series.
• Nuclear Ground Launch Cruise Missile: Babur

Air Force Strategic Command (AFSC)

It operates the aircraft capable of delivering nuclear warheads. Moreover, AFSC operates all the air launched nuclear weapons. It mainly consists of F-16A/B/C/D and Mirage 5 combat aircrafts. Pakistan intends to incorporate the dual-capable Ra’ad Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) onto the JF-17 in order to allow the newer aircraft to eventually take over the nuclear strike role. Pakistan is getting about 36 J-10CE fighter jets from China. It is assumed that Raad ALCM may be fitted with newly acquired J-10CE fighter jets.

Naval Strategic Force Command (NSFC)

NSFC was formally established on May 19, 2012, and has worked to develop a sea-based nuclear deterrent, which guarantees Pakistan’s second-strike capability. On January 9, 2017, ISPR announced that Pakistan had successfully launched its first successful test-fire of submarine-launched cruise missile SLCM (Babur-3), providing Pakistan with the second-strike capability. Presently, Pakistan Navy does not own a nuclear-powered submarine.

Pakistan Navy, however, has three (3) French-built Agosta 90B-class submarines that are powered by diesel-electric engines. The Pakistan Navy is likely to place nuclear-tipped cruise missiles on these submarines. Moreover, Pakistan signed a deal with China to buy eight Chinese Type 039C diesel-electric attack submarines that can be equipped with nuclear weapons.

Presently, Pakistan is capable to strike its adversary by land, air, and sea. The nuclear triad enhances Pakistan’s retaliatory capability or assured second-strike proficiency. Undeniably, the assured second-strike capability stabilizes and endures nuclear deterrence stability in a complex cum volatile strategic environment.

 

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Pakistani Nuclear tipped Missiles: A Threat to India

Pakistan is considered as a country having most sophisticated missile technology in the world. Starting from Hatf-IV, which is a short range missile, to Babur-III Submarine Launch Cruise Missile, Pakistani missiles are a continuous threat to it’s arch rival, India. These missiles serves a symbol of deterrence. Combination of these missiles with nuclear warheads have a capability to strike deep inside India.

Here a list of all nuclear tipped missiles is given:

Hatf-I

• Type: Short-range ballistic missile
• Launch platform: transport erector launcher (TEL)
• Range: 80-100 Kilometers
• Warhead: 500 kilograms
• Fuel: solid
• Stage: single
• Origin: SUPARCO

Hatf-II (Abdali)

• Type: Short-range ballistic missile
• Launch platform: transport erector launcher (TEL)
• Range: 180 Kilometers
• Warhead: 450 kilograms
• Fuel: solid
• Stage: single
• Origin: SUPARCO & NESCOM

Hatf-III (Ghaznavi)

• Type: Short-range ballistic missile
• Launch platform:
• Range: 290 kilometers
• Warhead: 700 kilograms
• Launch weight: 4650 kilograms
• Fuel: solid
• Origin: PMO & NESCOM

Hatf-IV (Shaheen-I)

• Type: Short-range ballistic missile
• Range: 750 kilometers
• Warhead: 850 kilograms
• Fuel: Solid
• Origin: NDC & NESCOM

Hatf-IV (Shaheen-IA)

• Type: medium-range ballistic missile
• Range: 900 kilometers
• Warhead: 700-1000 kilograms
• Fuel: Solid
• Origin: NDC & NESCOM

Hatf-V (Ghauri)

• Type: Medium-range ballistic missile
• Range: 1300 kilometers
• Launch platform: Transport Erecter Launcher (TEL)
• Warhead: 700 kilograms (Conventional/Nuclear)
• Fuel: liquid
• Stage: single stage
• CEP: Below 100 meters
• Origin: KRL & NESCOM

Hatf-VI (Shaheen-II)

• Type: Medium range ballistic missile
• Range: 1500 kilometers
• Origin: NESCOM & NDC
• Fuel: solid
• Stage: 2 stages

Shaheen-III

• Type: Medium-range ballistic missile
• Range: 2750 Kilometers
• Fuel: solid

Babur-1A

• Type: Ground Launch Cruise Missile
• Range: 450 kilometers
• Fuel: solid
• Origin: NDC & NESCOM

Babur-III

• Type: Submarine Launched Cruise Missile
• Launch platform: Agosta 90-B (Khalid-class submarines)
• Range: 450 kilometers
• Fuel: solid

Hatf-VIII (Raad-II)

• Type: Air Launch Cruise Missile
• Launch platform: Mirage-III
• Range: 600 Kilometers
• Warhead: 500 Kilograms
• Length: 4.85 meters
• Fuel: solid
• Origin: NDC & AWC & NESCOM

Hatf-IX (Nasr)

• Type: Battlefield range ballistic missile
• Launch platform: Transport Erector Launcher (TEL)
• Range: 70 Kilometers
• Warhead: Nuclear & Conventional
• Fuel: solid
• Origin: NESCOM

 

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