Apparently, nuclear decision-makers in India and Pakistan are still impressed by Kenneth Waltz’s ‘more may be better’ discourse – even though US-USSR/Russia strategic arms reductions have proved ‘more may not be better’. Advocates of nuclear deterrence in both the countries are well-received at every level and are viewed beacons of patriotism. Nuclear optimists generally derive their arguments from the traditional political realism and balance of power theories. Interestingly, they are very vocal to propound their point of view and have a very little space in giving any respect to nuclear pessimism.
. Both, the US and USSR/Russia have been the biggest conventional arms exporters to India and Pakistan. The Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and USSR/Russia’s conventional arms sales to India, in overwhelming proportions, have emboldened and strengthened nuclear optimists in Pakistan. Likewise, US <i>weapons business</i> and so-called strategic alliance with Pakistan have added much weight to Indian nuclear hawks’ premise for nuclear deterrence.</p><p>To my assessment, the rapidly changing nature of the US-Russia bilateral relationship and strategic role in different crises/issues/conflicts will have far-reaching repercussions on the South Asian nuclear template. The recent resurgence of Russia over the past few years is believed to be an indicator of another Cold War. Once again, many strategic pundits are recalling the long and dangerous Cold War era in which intentional peace and stability was under massive threat from great power ambitions. Russia’s annexation of Crimea and an unfolding strategic rivalry with the US will be used very conveniently by South Asian nuclear exponents to further buttress their hard positions.</p><p><img decoding=)
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