SAV Review: Is Pakistan’s Nuclear Strategy Stuck in Time?
In the aftermath of the Pulwama attack in February of this year, both India and Pakistan carried out a series of maneuvers with grave escalatory […]
Nuclear Issues
Convene a Joint Commission on the Consequences of a Nuclear War in South Asia
The nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan is intensifying, and with it, the possibility of a nuclear war. Both nuclear-armed states are developing new […]
Indian Hypersonic Weapons Bring New Challenges to South Asia
This summer, India somewhat successfully tested a weaponizable Hypersonic Technology Development Vehicle (HSTDV) off its eastern coast in the presence of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. […]
Hot Takes: India’s NFU Debate Heats Up (Again)
Much Ado about the NFU By: Tanvi Kulkarni India’s nuclear no-first-use (NFU) policy is under public discussion again. This time, the buzz around the validity […]
Understanding Perception Dissonance in South Asia’s Strategic Environment
The Balakot crisis between India and Pakistan added another tumultuous chapter to South Asia’s strategic stability. In February 2019, India conducted unprecedented air strikes on […]
Modernize the South Asia Nuclear Facility “Non-Attack” Agreement
Introduction On January 1, 2017, Indian and Pakistani diplomats exchanged official lists of the nuclear facilities located in their respective countries. According to news accounts […]
A Triangular MIRV Restraint Regime in Southern Asia
Introduction The advent of multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) in southern Asia can be quite consequential in terms of the unfolding triangular nuclear competition […]
Most recent
South Asia Needs CBMs More Than Ever
In 2017, Yasir Hussain assessed opportunities to implement new bilateral confidence building measures (CBMs) to reduce nuclear risk between India and Pakistan. His words, republished […]
A Hotline between National and Nuclear Command Authorities to Manage Tensions
Introduction India and Pakistan could benefit from establishing a dedicated, secure, and redundant 24/7 communications link – a “hotline” – between their respective NCAs (the […]
Back to Basics: Pledging Nuclear Restraint
Introduction China has been a nuclear-weapon state for slightly more than five decades. Beijing has approached nuclear deterrence from a minimalist perspective, eschewing large stockpiles […]
No Indian BMD for No Pakistani MIRVs
Introduction Nuclear competition is gradually driving South Asia toward greater uncertainty and instability. The introduction of new weapons systems in the region indicates an emerging […]
Time to Consider a Trilateral Asian ABM Treaty
Introduction At the height of the Cold War, the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty was signed between two superpower rivals based on a counterintuitive logic: that […]
Addressing South Asia’s Fissile Material Conundrum
South Asia is witnessing a growing competition in conventional and nuclear capabilities. During the past two decades, India and Pakistan have added more than two […]
Enact a Restraint Regime on MIRV Flight-Testing in South Asia
A restraint regime on multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) flight-testing becomes imperative at a time when strategic stability is decreasing in South Asia. India […]
Join the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty’s International Monitoring System
Introduction China, India, and Pakistan are expanding and modernizing their nuclear arsenals. Historical tensions, unresolved border disputes, and high levels of mistrust are among the factors […]
Understanding Kargil’s Nuclear Factor: Lessons for Future Crises
In 2018, Syed Ali Zia Jaffery analyzed the Kargil war in order to evaluate the prospects of third-party crisis management and nuclear escalation during India-Pakistan […]
SAV Review: Resisting the Counterforce Temptation
Christopher Clary and Vipin Narang’s article “India’s Counterforce Temptations: Strategic Dilemmas, Doctrines and Capabilities” in International Security attempts to make sense of India’s apparent approach […]