WASHINGTON (APP): The nuclearization of India and Pakistan has prevented tensions between them from becoming large-scale conflicts, leading experts said at a discussion as they weighed implications of South Asian nuclear tests ten years after the region witnessed a new balance of power.

Devin Hagerty, who has written extensively on the subject and Naeem Salik, a prominent Pakistani scholar at Johns Hopkins University, both concurred that contrary to fears the 1998 nuclear testing by both nations contributed to stabilizing security in the region.

Hagerty, a professor at University of Maryland-Baltimore County, cited Kargil and 2002 stand-off between the two countries and argued that the nuclearization helped avoid a major war. The testing made their opaque capability clear and the region moved out of the state of obscurity.

In his book, ‘Fearful Symmetry: India-Pakistan Crises in the Shadow of Nuclear,’ Hagerty also concluded that nuclear capability staved off a full-blown conflict between the two nations in the last two decades, although they had serious frictions over Kashmir and other issues.

Naeem Salik, who is authoring a book on the subject - Genesis of South Asian Nuclear Deterrence - noted at the Woodrow Wilson Center that testing and resultant balance of power reduced overall tensions. Pakistan, he said, put in place an effective Command and Control Authority in 2000 and its nuclear weapons are secure.

Robert Einhorn, who focuses on non-proliferation and arms control issues at Center for Strategic and International Studies, opined that South Asian nuclearization was a blow to non-proliferation efforts.


Associated Press of Pakistan

Alhamdu'Lillah.

Congratulations to Pakistani hiearchy for choosing to go nuclear in the mid-1970s, for making the wise decisions that has saved their following generations from Statue/Animal Worshipers's dominance over it's smaller neighbours. Otherwise Pakistan would had been in the same position as the twenty-two/three Arab nations versus one tiny little baby Zion are in today.

by this theory Iran should have nukes with long range missiles to prevent US agressing. Palestinians shoould also get nukes..etc etc

I posted that here Bro

http://pakistanidefenceforum.com//index.php?showtopic=75132

Nukes not only help in deterring or inhibiting war from escalating beyond certain point, but also in context of subcontinent, the security of Nukes affords both sides over time to evolve and moderate new approaches and directions in seeking political solutions and settlements. It has less chance of being seen as succumbing to the other due to weakness or domination.

I thought that was pretty obvious - don't need an expert to tell you that.

I think the writer should have clarified that Pakistani nuclear testing did refrain India from attacking us. Cause after the explosions India was all high & mighty talking about it's nuclear arsenal.

It was our replying nuclear explosions that brought sanity to the sub-continent.

Most of these sabre rattling are for domestic consumptions, otherwise if you recall India became nuclear power back in 1974, decades ahead of Pakistan.

QUOTE(must7 @ Apr 25 2008, 11:36 PM)
I think the writer should have clarified that Pakistani nuclear testing did refrain India from attacking us. Cause after the explosions India was all high & mighty talking about it's nuclear arsenal.

It was our replying nuclear explosions that brought sanity to the sub-continent.


Most of these sabre rattling are for domestic consumptions, otherwise if you recall India became nuclear power back in 1974, decades ahead of Pakistan

Yes of course & it was called a peaceful explosion named "Smilling Budha". Not to mention the tests which India & Pakistani did not were not just atomic explosions they were defense related explosion incorporating controlled weapon sized warheads !

there was a quantum difference between what India exploded in 1974 and that done in 1998 .. Hence, the sabre rattling by India after the 1998 explosions !

I will concede the 'peaceful explosion' declaration was bull, but I agree with rotorooter, India did develop nuclear weapons before Pakistan did.

I will concede the 'peaceful explosion' declaration was bull, but I agree with rotorooter, India did develop nuclear weapons before Pakistan did.

Any proof to back it up !

Because while India did it silently suppose because they were using processed Uranium from their reactors meant for civilian projets, Pakistan since the 80's has been openly accepting it's nuclear capability including cold test & count of it's nuclear arsenal / warhead.

However, claiming that India was first or Pakistan first in minitiarized warhad design of atomic bomb is just speculation.

What counts is that when India had proved it's war related nuclear capability, it was sabre rattling on Pakistan's door step openly and it was not sanctioned for taking such extreme acts.