Nuclear Diplomacy: A Case Study of French and Pakistani Behaviour

Abstract

The nuclear proliferation in South Asia has been reaching the most dangerous point where the nuclear confrontation seems not avoidable. Since the nuclear blasts of both India and Pakistan in 1998, there is constant threat that both the nations might be engaged in a conflict that would eventually lead them to an exchange of nuclear weapons. Hardly one year passed, this happened in 1999 when both states fought at the Kargil heights but due to the intervention from international community the conflict did not convert in to the nuclear war. The situation again became worse in 2001-2002 India-Pakistan border confrontation. Though the situation became normal apparently but the threat between both the states existed constantly and after the Mumbai terror in November 2008 strain in relations has been extending and nowadays things have been surfacing again that seems to take the two nuclear rivals to a danger. The nuclear doctrines of both States are showing their intentions. Pakistan‘s nuclear doctrine clearly shows that its nuclear weapons are India specific and have no other purpose than just to defend the state from Indian aggression, whereas in contrast Indian nuclear doctrine shows somewhat an image of emerging global power by comparing it with other states, China in particular. The nuclear doctrines of both States have a huge impact on South Asian security. It looks impossible to stop the nuclear race in South Asia because Pakistan is maintaining credible minimum nuclear deterrence against India and India against China whereas China against other powers.