CHALLENGES TO NUCLEAR DETERRENCE IN SOUTH ASIA

Nuclear deterrence has been a cornerstone for strategic stability in South Asia especially between Pakistan and India, but there are some political and strategic factors which grave challenges to nuclear deterrence in South Asia and the incident of Pulwama further intensified the situation. The study aims to identify and analyse various challenges posed to nuclear deterrence in South Asia especially after the crisis of Pulwama attack. Discussing challenges, the study finds that Indian hegemony ambitions and imbalanced power in the region, interventions of global powers, existence of non-state actors, lack of crisis management and absence of formal mechanism for dialogue and reconciliation are the biggest challenges posed to nuclear deterrence in the region. The study further aims to highlight and recommend steps to address challenges to nuclear deterrence. Firstly, a robust, reliable and urgent crisis management mechanism and effective communication channels should be established between both countries. Secondly, both states should initiate confidence building measures (CBM), and thirdly, both nations need to clarify and harmonise their nuclear doctrines, most importantly, there should be a mechanism to monitor and control arms race and maintain balance of power.