The global distribution of power is shifting from Europe to Asia-Pacific and steady fluctuations ... more The global distribution of power is shifting from Europe to Asia-Pacific and steady fluctuations between states within Asia are also being witnessed. The strategic quadrilateral relationship, described here as a growing systemic security dilemma, among states such as the US-China, China-India, and India-Pakistan is fairly complicated. Given the anarchic nature of the security dilemma, this study builds a debate on the question of how the systemic interaction of these states, their force structure, military modernizations, and future technological advancements lead to shape the regional security order of the broader southern Asian region. The study determines that the competitive power balancing system in Asia, leads to create an unresolvable uncertainty and security dilemma among these states, based on possibilities for miscalculations and accidental war. The security dilemma among these states can only be resolved through bilateral arrangements instead of multilateral mechanisms.
This book while comprehending the contemporary global security environment, offers a new roadmap ... more This book while comprehending the contemporary global security environment, offers a new roadmap for nuclear disarmament by creating a balance between deterrence supporters and disarmament advocators. The author identifies the divide between competing approaches such as traditional security-centric aspects and humanity-centred disarmament perspectives, tackling the complex question of how to balance some states' compulsions for effective nuclear deterrence with other states' long-term desire for a nuclear-free world. The book explores how new technologies such as cyber and Artificial Intelligence advances are available to more countries than nuclear technology, and could level the playing field for weaker nuclear weapon states. It also looks into the issues which continue to be obstacles in the way of convincing the nuclear weapon states on nuclear disarmament. The author argues that the gap between states' security needs and disarmament aspirations can be bridged by building a new roadmap and creating new security environment. This volume will be of great interest to students and scholars, researchers, policymakers, NGOs and members of the diplomatic community, in the fields of security studies, strategic studies and nuclear policy.
Currently, we witness a volatile, polarized and destabilizing international security environment ... more Currently, we witness a volatile, polarized and destabilizing international security environment that has exposed us to the grey zones of war and peace. Security challenges arising from both hybrid threats and hybrid warfare (both multiple and synchronized threats that aim to target states’ vulnerabilities at different levels covering domains other than military) seem to have held front seat on the global security agenda thereby altering the relevance of nuclear deterrence. Deterrence is generally understood as an ability to dissuade a state from embarking upon a course of action prejudicial to one’s vital security interests, based on demonstrative capability. The nuclear deterrence theory, as propounded by Brodie (Brodie 1946, p. 76), which is grounded in political realism, enriches our thought process to comprehend the potential character of nuclear weapons. The focus of nuclear deterrence was on averting wars through the psychological manipulation of an adversary’s mind. Thus, it...
The present international security environment seems less favorable to nuclear disarmament. All t... more The present international security environment seems less favorable to nuclear disarmament. All the existing mechanisms directed to promote disarmament and arms control are in despair. For example, the dismantlement of the existing arms control treaties between Russia and the West, arrival of newer technologies and renewed arms racing problems between US and Russia, US and China, China and India, India and Pakistan, turmoil in the Middle East and nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula introduced renewed stability challenges for broader nonproliferation mechanisms. Currently, states’ reliance on modernization of deterrent force has increased while their emphasis on disarmament has decreased. Against this backdrop, the US has introduced a new initiative on creating an environment for nuclear disarmament (CEND) which aims at initiating dialogue among states to comprehend the global security context, states’ underlying security concerns, their bilateral threat perceptions and space to g...
International Journal: Canada's Journal of Global Policy Analysis, 2003
... from the nuclear scientists involved with the pro-ject, Pakistani General Zia-ul-Haq refused ... more ... from the nuclear scientists involved with the pro-ject, Pakistani General Zia-ul-Haq refused to ... India can be found in Zia Mian, "Renouncing the Nuclear Option," in Samina Ahmed and ... nuclear threats to support its strategy of low-intensity, conventional warfare, as Haider argued. ...
The aim of this study is to understand the motivation behind Pakistan's nuclear behaviour and... more The aim of this study is to understand the motivation behind Pakistan's nuclear behaviour and its ramifications for the global non-proliferation system. Pakistan is an extremely important case because of its status as a non-signatory state to the Non-Proliferation ...
Establishing the new nuclear taboo: Pakistan's nuclear behaviour after the revelation of AQ K... more Establishing the new nuclear taboo: Pakistan's nuclear behaviour after the revelation of AQ Khan Case Author: Rizwana Abbasi This paper is available on purchase at www. inmm. org Abstract Because of the obloquy it suffered in 2003-4 at the time of the revelation of Khan's ...
This study re-evaluates nuclear deterrence concepts and strategies of India and Pakistan in the t... more This study re-evaluates nuclear deterrence concepts and strategies of India and Pakistan in the transformed regional environment. This paper primarily focuses on evaluating the two states‘ transformative progression and steady transition into their nuclear strategies and postures. It addresses the following questions: How did the two states‘ distinct directions guide them to formulate their doctrines and strategies? How far have the changing security dynamics and emerging doctrinal structures made India and Pakistan more or less secure? How would transformation from land to seabased deterrence affect the regional stability in South Asia? The paper finds that nuclear deterrence in South Asia apparently has stabilised the region but peace was precariously maintained because the two states did not rationally demonstrate strategic responsibility to induce permanent peace and preclude the probability of war. The introduction of new technologies and states‘ transformation from land to sea...
Nuclear weapons have not been employed since the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U... more Nuclear weapons have not been employed since the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. However, in many crises and wars in history, there was the possibility of employing nuclear weapons without fear of retaliation. However, states did not use the nuclear option, even though they might have paid a higher price in the theatre of war. This in spite of the existence of many variables which might have supported the employment of nuclear bombs, such as widespread nuclear weapons possession internationally; states’ technical efficiency with regards to the operationalisation of such weapons; transfer of nuclear weapons from old to new proliferators within an asymmetric balance of power; the importance of nuclear weapons in states’ national security policies and their strategic doctrines; states’ distinct strategic cultures, traditions and unique political systems; and more significantly, the absence of legal prohibition of the possession and use of nuclear weapons.
The contemporary emerging security trends seem destined to marginalising the potential and legiti... more The contemporary emerging security trends seem destined to marginalising the potential and legitimacy of the nuclear nonproliferation regime. The transformation in the international settings have modified state actors’ behaviour at the domestic level and resultantly, states have started orienting themselves to a changed environment contrary to the set non-proliferation norms. This study investigates some pertinent questions: why was the regime created in the first place? What are the problems attached to the regime and how have emerging trends further undermined the scope and role of this regime? Why is the regime important for the future security environment? What could possibly happen if the regime is not made effective with renewed realisable objectives? The study asks why there is an urgent need to establish a stringent norm against proliferation of nuclear weapons and make it consistent with emerging realities. This study concludes that most of the non-proliferation problems fr...
The global distribution of power is shifting from Europe to Asia-Pacific and steady fluctuations ... more The global distribution of power is shifting from Europe to Asia-Pacific and steady fluctuations between states within Asia are also being witnessed. The strategic quadrilateral relationship, described here as a growing systemic security dilemma, among states such as the US-China, China-India, and India-Pakistan is fairly complicated. Given the anarchic nature of the security dilemma, this study builds a debate on the question of how the systemic interaction of these states, their force structure, military modernizations, and future technological advancements lead to shape the regional security order of the broader southern Asian region. The study determines that the competitive power balancing system in Asia, leads to create an unresolvable uncertainty and security dilemma among these states, based on possibilities for miscalculations and accidental war. The security dilemma among these states can only be resolved through bilateral arrangements instead of multilateral mechanisms.
This book while comprehending the contemporary global security environment, offers a new roadmap ... more This book while comprehending the contemporary global security environment, offers a new roadmap for nuclear disarmament by creating a balance between deterrence supporters and disarmament advocators. The author identifies the divide between competing approaches such as traditional security-centric aspects and humanity-centred disarmament perspectives, tackling the complex question of how to balance some states' compulsions for effective nuclear deterrence with other states' long-term desire for a nuclear-free world. The book explores how new technologies such as cyber and Artificial Intelligence advances are available to more countries than nuclear technology, and could level the playing field for weaker nuclear weapon states. It also looks into the issues which continue to be obstacles in the way of convincing the nuclear weapon states on nuclear disarmament. The author argues that the gap between states' security needs and disarmament aspirations can be bridged by building a new roadmap and creating new security environment. This volume will be of great interest to students and scholars, researchers, policymakers, NGOs and members of the diplomatic community, in the fields of security studies, strategic studies and nuclear policy.
Currently, we witness a volatile, polarized and destabilizing international security environment ... more Currently, we witness a volatile, polarized and destabilizing international security environment that has exposed us to the grey zones of war and peace. Security challenges arising from both hybrid threats and hybrid warfare (both multiple and synchronized threats that aim to target states’ vulnerabilities at different levels covering domains other than military) seem to have held front seat on the global security agenda thereby altering the relevance of nuclear deterrence. Deterrence is generally understood as an ability to dissuade a state from embarking upon a course of action prejudicial to one’s vital security interests, based on demonstrative capability. The nuclear deterrence theory, as propounded by Brodie (Brodie 1946, p. 76), which is grounded in political realism, enriches our thought process to comprehend the potential character of nuclear weapons. The focus of nuclear deterrence was on averting wars through the psychological manipulation of an adversary’s mind. Thus, it...
The present international security environment seems less favorable to nuclear disarmament. All t... more The present international security environment seems less favorable to nuclear disarmament. All the existing mechanisms directed to promote disarmament and arms control are in despair. For example, the dismantlement of the existing arms control treaties between Russia and the West, arrival of newer technologies and renewed arms racing problems between US and Russia, US and China, China and India, India and Pakistan, turmoil in the Middle East and nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula introduced renewed stability challenges for broader nonproliferation mechanisms. Currently, states’ reliance on modernization of deterrent force has increased while their emphasis on disarmament has decreased. Against this backdrop, the US has introduced a new initiative on creating an environment for nuclear disarmament (CEND) which aims at initiating dialogue among states to comprehend the global security context, states’ underlying security concerns, their bilateral threat perceptions and space to g...
International Journal: Canada's Journal of Global Policy Analysis, 2003
... from the nuclear scientists involved with the pro-ject, Pakistani General Zia-ul-Haq refused ... more ... from the nuclear scientists involved with the pro-ject, Pakistani General Zia-ul-Haq refused to ... India can be found in Zia Mian, "Renouncing the Nuclear Option," in Samina Ahmed and ... nuclear threats to support its strategy of low-intensity, conventional warfare, as Haider argued. ...
The aim of this study is to understand the motivation behind Pakistan's nuclear behaviour and... more The aim of this study is to understand the motivation behind Pakistan's nuclear behaviour and its ramifications for the global non-proliferation system. Pakistan is an extremely important case because of its status as a non-signatory state to the Non-Proliferation ...
Establishing the new nuclear taboo: Pakistan's nuclear behaviour after the revelation of AQ K... more Establishing the new nuclear taboo: Pakistan's nuclear behaviour after the revelation of AQ Khan Case Author: Rizwana Abbasi This paper is available on purchase at www. inmm. org Abstract Because of the obloquy it suffered in 2003-4 at the time of the revelation of Khan's ...
This study re-evaluates nuclear deterrence concepts and strategies of India and Pakistan in the t... more This study re-evaluates nuclear deterrence concepts and strategies of India and Pakistan in the transformed regional environment. This paper primarily focuses on evaluating the two states‘ transformative progression and steady transition into their nuclear strategies and postures. It addresses the following questions: How did the two states‘ distinct directions guide them to formulate their doctrines and strategies? How far have the changing security dynamics and emerging doctrinal structures made India and Pakistan more or less secure? How would transformation from land to seabased deterrence affect the regional stability in South Asia? The paper finds that nuclear deterrence in South Asia apparently has stabilised the region but peace was precariously maintained because the two states did not rationally demonstrate strategic responsibility to induce permanent peace and preclude the probability of war. The introduction of new technologies and states‘ transformation from land to sea...
Nuclear weapons have not been employed since the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U... more Nuclear weapons have not been employed since the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States. However, in many crises and wars in history, there was the possibility of employing nuclear weapons without fear of retaliation. However, states did not use the nuclear option, even though they might have paid a higher price in the theatre of war. This in spite of the existence of many variables which might have supported the employment of nuclear bombs, such as widespread nuclear weapons possession internationally; states’ technical efficiency with regards to the operationalisation of such weapons; transfer of nuclear weapons from old to new proliferators within an asymmetric balance of power; the importance of nuclear weapons in states’ national security policies and their strategic doctrines; states’ distinct strategic cultures, traditions and unique political systems; and more significantly, the absence of legal prohibition of the possession and use of nuclear weapons.
The contemporary emerging security trends seem destined to marginalising the potential and legiti... more The contemporary emerging security trends seem destined to marginalising the potential and legitimacy of the nuclear nonproliferation regime. The transformation in the international settings have modified state actors’ behaviour at the domestic level and resultantly, states have started orienting themselves to a changed environment contrary to the set non-proliferation norms. This study investigates some pertinent questions: why was the regime created in the first place? What are the problems attached to the regime and how have emerging trends further undermined the scope and role of this regime? Why is the regime important for the future security environment? What could possibly happen if the regime is not made effective with renewed realisable objectives? The study asks why there is an urgent need to establish a stringent norm against proliferation of nuclear weapons and make it consistent with emerging realities. This study concludes that most of the non-proliferation problems fr...
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