Why bind ourselves to 'no first use policy', says Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on India's nuclear doctrine

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar created a flutter on Thursday when he said India should not bind itself to a ‘no first use policy’ regarding exercise of nuclear option.

Though the Defence Minister admitted it was his personal opinion and that there was no change in government's stated nuclear no first use policy, but in the same breath he stressed he strongly feels for such an approach because there are no hard and fast rules about things not "well-defined."

"Why should I bind myself? I should say I am a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly. This is my (personal) thinking," Parrikar said replying to a question as he explained the need to be unpredictable in warfare strategy.

Following the nuclear weapons test in 1998, India had declared a "no first use" nuclear policy. Taking a dig at the media, he said they will publish that the nuclear policy has changed.

Watch video: Ministry says Parrikar's statement on nuclear policy his 'personal opinion'

"It has not changed in government. It is my concept. As an individual I also get feeling. I am not saying you have to use it first. Hoax can be called off," he said, adding that prior to the surgical strike, Pakistan Defence Minister used to threaten India with the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons.

"From the day surgical strike happened, no threat has come. They realised that we can do something which is not well defined," he said.