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Overview. India and Pakistan are examples of
countries that never joined the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
and developed and tested nuclear weapons. The two countries have engaged in numerous conflicts during
the last half century; since 1989, they have clashed over the disputed
state of Jammu and Kashmir. They pursued nuclear programs partly in response
to these conflicts and partly to gain more prominence in the international
community. Both countries tested nuclear weapons in 1998, and thus escalated the
possible dangers of future conflicts and created quandaries for the states that
participate in the nuclear nonproliferation regime. Also, in 2004, Pakistan's
Dr. A.Q. Khan's role
as a major exporter of nuclear weapons technology and know-how became
known. Despite their nuclear weapons status, the United States has cooperated
with both countries on military and anti-terrorism matters, and in 2006 agreed
to provide sensitive civilian nuclear technology to India.
Background. Much of the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan
has focused on the state of Kashmir. The international community is concerned
that Kashmir may become a flash point that might trigger a nuclear war in South
Asia, much the same way Berlin was viewed by many to be a potential flash point
between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. India,
however, continuously rejects international efforts at mediation over
territorial disputes in Kashmir, and downplays the role that Kashmir plays in
hostilities with Pakistan. By refusing to recognize the centrality of Kashmir in
the conflict with Pakistan, India may be attempting to reduce the chances that
Kashmir will ever become a nuclear flash point. Pakistan, on the other hand,
welcomes international involvement.
India and Pakistan have engaged in three major wars; the 1948 war that led to the
creation of Pakistan, and two more wars were fought in 1965 and again in 1971. The most recent armed conflict between the two powers occurred in 1999 in Kargil,
when Pakistani-backed militants reportedly crossed over the Line of Control
(LOC) that divides Pakistani and Indian-held territory in Kashmir; this
resulted in 1,000 casualties. The LOC was established in 1948 and separates the
Indian-controlled states of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-controlled Azad
(Free) Kashmir. Between 40,000 and 90,000 casualties have been caused by clashes
over Kashmir since 1989.
The conflict between Pakistan and India reached its zenith on December 13,
2001, when Islamic militants attacked the Indian Parliament in New Delhi (the
capital of India) killing 14. India mobilized 700,000 troops to the Pakistani
border, and accused Islamabad (the capital of Pakistan) of inciting the attacks.
Pakistan in turn mobilized forces to the Indian border, resulting in nearly one
million troops poised to fight. Nuclear fears were at an all time high in the
international community, and it was only after the United States formally
intervened and applied pressure on Pakistan to renounce the attacks and
dismantle terrorist camps in Azad Kashmir that India pulled back its troops in
October 2002.
On October 8, 2005, a massive earthquake devastated the disputed
region of Kashmir, killing an estimated 100,000 persons, and forcing
India and Pakistan to discuss relief efforts. Pakistan's President
Pervez Musharraf rejected joint military rescue operations but
requested that survivors be allowed to cross the Line of Control to
find shelter and supplies. India asked for measures to screen
Kashmiris allowed to cross the border, and few crossing have been
made. The bilateral and international negotiations about the relief
efforts in the disputed region may benefit the ongoing peace process
but mutual distrust still prevails between India and Pakistan. In
July 2006, India accused Pakistan-based militants of detonating a
series of bombs in India's financial capital Mumbai that killed
nearly 200 people. Nonetheless, Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister
Singh later agreed to set up joint mechanisms to prevent terrorism.
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Further Reading:
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NTI Country Profile,
India |
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NTI Country Profile,
Pakistan |
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Arms Control Association,
India and Pakistan |
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CNS, Gaurav Kampani,
"India's Compellance Strategy: Calling Pakistan's Bluff Over Kashmir" |
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H. L. Stimson Center, M. Krepon and C. Gagne, eds.,
Nuclear Weapons and Brinksmanship in South
Asia |
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CNS, Gaurav Kampani,
"Proliferation Unbound: Nuclear Tales from Pakistan" |
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NTI, Gaurav Kampani,
"Indo-Pakistani Military Standoff: Why It Isn't Over Yet" |
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CISAC, Verghese Koithara,
"Coercion and Risk-Taking in Nuclear South Asia" |
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CISAC, Scott Sagan,
"Nuclear Dangers in South Asia" |
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