The Politics of Nuclear Weapons in South Asia

Critically assesses key aspects of South Asia's post-tests nuclear politics. Unlike other books, this volume emphasizes and explains the politico-strategic dimensions of nuclear weapons possession by India and Pakistan. Contributors of this volume view nuclear weapons as politico-strategic assets rather than weapons to be used in the battlefield. In other words, nuclear weapon states generally prioritize politico-strategic goals over pure military objectives in pursuing nuclear policies. Defining nuclear politics broadly, this volume evaluates the politics of Indo-Pakistani nuclearization, their post-test nuclear postures, implications of Indo-Pakistani nuclearization, the role of two systemic actors in the region's nuclear politics and the critical issue of confidence-building and nuclear arms control, which is yet to be seriously addressed by the region's nuclear specialists.