Evaluating Challenges to Strategic Stability in South Asia

Abstract

Strategic Stability is defined as Safety, Security and survivability of nuclear weapons. Strategic stability is largely each and every stability that prevents the war between the two nuclear weapons adversaries. The stability of South Asia is directly proportional to the balanced strategic equation between India and Pakistan. The graph of nuclear learning depicts negative trends and shows that after twenty years of overt nuclearization; both the states are in the process of nurturing their relations. Pakistan is considered as a weak state in international hierarchical system however; its nuclear status has bolstered its grade in the world. Pakistan does not see itself chasing Prestige Model, however, it is acquainted with its underdog status in international community, thus uses nuclear weapon as a tool of Deterrence to ensure its survival. The nuclear weapons are considered as an instrument to avert India from waging humiliating war against Pakistan. The Indian foreign policy tenets stand to maintain a status quo with Pakistan keeping in consideration the political turmoil, indeed this is seen through the prism of Deterrence in Indo-Pak relations. The significant attribute of Deterrence in Indo-Pak relations is that both are hesitant to characterize red lines. The paper explores the concept of Strategic Stability itself and how it has evolved from Cold War to South Asia, moreover the intangible factors that could be involved in destabilizing South Asian Strategic Stability.