Pakistan’s Nuclear Programme and Its Impact on India

Abstract

The nuclear programmes of both India and Pakistan have become a flashpoint of South Asia and the world because of their rivalry with each other since independence had led them to wars in 1948, 1965, and 1971. But since the testing of nuclear weapons from both states in 1998 there is constant threat that both the nations might engage with each other and which has happened in 1999 when both fought at the Kargil but due to the intervention from international community the conflict didn‘t changed in the nuclear war and again the situation became worse in 2001-2002 India-Pakistan border confrontation. The threat between both states is still there due to their tense relations although the relations were normalized since end of 2002 confrontation but after the Mumbai terror in November 2008 has again restrained the relations of both states. The nuclear doctrines of both States are showing their intentions. Pakistan‘s nuclear doctrine clearly shows that their nuclear weapons are India specific and they have no other purpose than just to defend the state from Indian aggression, whereas in contrast Indian nuclear doctrine shows somewhat an image of emerging global power by comparing it with other states like China and developing the triad of forces. The nuclear doctrines of both States have a huge impact on South Asia because it clearly indicates that it looks impossible to stop the nuclear race in South Asia because Pakistan is maintaining credible minimum nuclear deterrence against India and India against China whereas China against other powers. The future of South Asian security is not very bright due to the fact that Kashmir issue is still hanging which is the bone of contention between both states and there is a need to solve the issue as quickly as possible so that the peace of South Asia can be restored and the threat of nuclear war on South Asia would be eliminated.