by Nauman Hashmi

Created on: November 04, 2011   Last Updated: November 06, 2011

The story of India and Pakistans conflict dates back to the time of partition. The partition of Sub-Continent resulted into two separate states. The Hindu dominated States emerged as India and Muslim dominated state emerged as Pakistan. Since the time of independence, both nations are in state of feud among each other. To date, both countries have seen three full scale wars in 1948, 1965 and 1971. While many limited conflicts like Rann of Kucch, Siachin and Kargil emerged in 1965, 1982 and 1999 respectively, both countries are maintaining an armed race which dates back to the 1950s. Pakistan joined the American block in the 1950s while India parted sides with Russian red bear. On both sides of the border there is a considerable majority which thinks of each other as arch enemies. These sentiments are also well exploited by the political parties of the region.

The nuclear race among these nations began in the 1970s with India taking lead after the Pokhran thermo-nuclear tests. Pakistan had to start its emergency reply in late 1970s. Unofficial reports claim that Pakistan had the nuclear capability in the 1980s. However, the official tests were conducted in 1998 at Chaghi, Balochistan in response to Indian nuclear blasts. Since then both countries have officially joined the nuclear club.

Both countries claim that their military nuclear capability acts as deterrent to a full scale war/conflict. There is a great difference in conventional military capabilities of both countries. India has the lead in numbers against their rivals. For understanding the issue let us consider the scenario of conventional war. Pakistan being a smaller country could use the lethal nuclear option to evade any adverse outcomes of the war, while India could also retaliate with great ferocity. The regime in these countries is also important. India is a democratically matured country. However, political elements like BJP and their connections with in the India military are dangerous. Pakistan is still a tumbling democratic state. Pakistani military is one of the most influential pressure groups in Pakistani Politics. Pakistani political leaders are dominated by their Military establishment. In the heat of battle, one wrong move to turn the tables could be expected. Similarly, the Indian military connection with Hindu fundamentalists could also be dangerous. It is also pertinent to note that nuclear weapons are not like ordinary bombs which could be exploded by time devices or IED’s. Nuclear weapons are sophisticated weapons with paraphernalia of security and activation mechanism.  Unless some internal connection is not involved it is very difficult to use nuclear weapons for the terrorists purposes.

The option of disarming both the neighbors is seemingly against the national pride of these nations. Moreover the public sentiments regarding the disarmament could be very severe. However, if civil nuclear use for purposes like power generation and other public services could be promoted, the economic engine of both nations could have a new life. Channeling the military nuclear effort to civil nuclear effort could pave the way for peaceful disarmament without much public havoc. As sovereign states both countries have the right to keep the military deterrence in the region. However, the agonizing stories of Nagasaki and Hiroshima can be avoided by public awareness campaigns and instigating the public sentiments against the lethality of nuclear weapons.   

Learn more about this author, Nauman Hashmi.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.