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CBRN Brief
Pakistan's Nuclear Assets: India's Concerns
Ali Ahmed
Security Analyst, New Delhi
CBRNIB11-Ali-PakNukes.pdf
 
Pakistan, though a state perpetually in danger of becoming a ‘failed state with nuclear weapons’, has credible control over its nuclear assets. This control however, is threatened by the spread of Islamism in Pakistan, which is likely to increase, especially in case of misapplied policies in favour of a military-dominant approach to the problem of the Taliban in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, it must be noted that this fear is exaggerated and is intended to pressurise Pakistan ‘to do more’ in the GWOT.

Pakistan however, will place its concerns regarding national existence and cohesion at the forefront of any such consideration. It cannot be expected to run the risk of a rightist coup or self-consuming civil war in its efforts towards the GWOT. Doing so would only detract from the aims of the international community in the region. Therefore, it would be prudent to realise that as a nuclear state, it requires greater space for making strategic choices in the GWOT. This would ensure more effective security of its nuclear assets than the proposed provision of security by external forces. The feared denouement of an Islamist grab would only be hastened by such action. Even in case of an Islamist takeover of Pakistan, there is no need for India to emulate an Iraq in the wake of the Iranian revolution. The ‘mutuality of interest’ between India and the US indeed exists, but needs revision along these lines.

 
 
 
 

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