Publications Details

Examining Efficacy of Strategic Stability in South Asia: An Analysis

Sahgal, Brig A.

This paper highlights how, in the backdrop of prevalent tensions between India and Pakistan, deterrence stability is endangered even when overall strategic stability prevails. Unresolved legacy issues including an outstanding boundary dispute, conflict over Kashmir, and terrorism mar India-Pakistan relations. Variables undermining the prospects for long term peace, among others, include growing mutual mistrust, the proxy war that India believes is state perpetrated, increasing conventional asymmetry, rapid advancement in weapon technologies, growing size of nuclear arsenals, doctrinal mismatch and above all, bilateral gridlock in confidence building measures and arms control measures.