The Impact of Cultural Aspects on the Nuclear Security of Pakistan

Pakistan, as a nuclear-weapon state, has been subject to international scrutiny for its nuclear security due to the presence of militant groups, armed insurgencies, a volatile political and security environment, and a weak economy and institutions. While most scholarship on Pakistani nuclear security has focused on these issues, the relationship between Pakistan’s baseline culture and nuclear security remains understudied. Pakistan's unique and diverse cultural aspects could affect its nuclear security culture and, therefore, its security policies. This research argues that while challenges exist in studying and universalizing cultural factors in a heterogeneous society like Pakistan, some general results can be deduced, necessitating exploration to ensure nuclear facilities and operations remain safe and secure. The paper delves into the importance of culture and nuclear security, arguing that the effectiveness of nuclear security culture in enhancing a country's nuclear security is impacted by the baseline cultural beliefs of its people, and the relationship between the two remains dynamic. This research investigates this relationship by drawing a Pakistani Culture and Nuclear Security Matrix, studying the impact of cultural aspects like honor, opinions of others, reverence and respect, religion and faith, tribal identities and ethnocentrism, mental health opinions, and patriarchy and gender roles. Finally, the study provides insights and recommendations, arguing that while culture can harm nuclear security, leveraging cultural values and beliefs to augment security, including establishing new cultural norms, needs to be explored. It also contends that regional countries' shared cultural values and beliefs can be leveraged for enhanced regional nuclear security.