Critically analyse India’s nuclear doctrine Vis a Vis Pakistan and China’s nuclear doctrines. Also examine how the West views nuclear situation in South Asia. (200 Words)
Nuclear doctrine is a standard rules designed to guide nation in utilizing nuclear weapons against “enemy state/s”.
India’s nuclear capability is to counter Chinese threat. India’s nuclear doctrine follows “NO FIRST USE” policy. India is actively involved in achieving second strike capability.
India and Pakistan are non-Signatories to CTBT, NPT and China has not ratified CTBT.
According to a SIPRI report and IHS Jane’s, “India is expanding a covert uranium enrichment plant that could potentially support the development of thermonuclear weapons.”
Many experts believe that India must always be prepared for two front wars, and recent announcement by China to sell 8 submarines to Pakistan, supports experts belief.
China’s nuclear doctrine is to counter US and Japan, while Pakistan only Islamic State with nuclear weapons can use them against India in first strike or to protect its allies in West Asia and Gulf nations. This is also a case for China which is aware of USA’s “Pivot Asia” policy.
For West, south Asia is fully potential hub of Nuclear Catastrophe; many Islands in Indian Ocean can become modern Cuba’s. But, it seems that neither India nor Pakistan have reached their desired maximum number of nuclear weapons, the point at which they might feel there is no need to produce more nuclear weapons or delivery systems.
Also, nuclear doctrines, of all three nations are very complicated and not of same standard as of cold war, because in cold war every nuke of US and USSR was targeted against each other.
So, West believes threat of nuclear war is very less as compared to Cold War in this region.