Was Israel about to strike Pakistan's nuclear weapons?
Amid Iran-Israel conflict, interest in Pakistan's nuclear weapons has resurfaced on social media, along with reports from the late 1990s alleging that Israel had planned to strike Pakistan's stockpile
In June 1998, an Israeli government spokesperson publicly dismissed circulating Israeli media reports alleging that Israel was planning a military strike against Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure. The claims, which gained traction in local news outlets, claimed Tel Aviv had drafted contingency plans to neutralize Pakistan’s developing nuclear program.
During a press briefing, the Israeli official categorically denied any such intentions, emphasizing that the country's defense policy does not include preemptive operations targeting Pakistan’s nuclear facilities. The spokesperson noted these sensational reports were based on misinformation and had been “misrepresented by the media.”
Context and Implications
The incident unfolded just days after Pakistan, under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, conducted its first successful nuclear tests, registering Islamabad as a declared nuclear power. This milestone triggered heightened media attention and geopolitical speculation, especially in the wake of India’s earlier nuclear tests in May.
Amidst heightened tensions, Pakistan's government reaffirmed the defensive purpose of its nuclear arsenal. Pakistani officials cautioned that any attempt to diminish its nuclear capability would meet with serious resistance, while simultaneously calling upon global powers to discourage further nuclear escalation in South Asia.
Media Speculation vs. Official Position
While several Israeli outlets reported on the purported military plans, the foreign ministry’s swift rebuttal aimed to dispel any notions that Israel was seeking to enter the South Asian nuclear equation. Experts suggest that the leaked reports may have been motivated by broader strategic fears surrounding nuclear proliferation, rather than any real military planning.
David Bar-Illan, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had stated on 2nd June 1998 that Israel was concerned about the proliferation of nuclear weapons to more extremist Islamic states, such as Iran and Iraq. Here is a video statement from back then: