Open Seminar “Nuclear dynamics in South Asia”
The seminar was also attended by Dr. Olga Kharina, Dr. Nivedita Kapoor and Andrei Dobritsyn who moderated a seminar.
Dr. Sethi highlighted that in Asia there are three geographically conjoined states with nuclear weapons (SNWs)- India, Pakistan and China, all of which have historical animosities and territorial disputes which along with China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the activity of QUAD and the rise of cross border terrorism stay the ground for conflicts and further escalation. Considering that China is official nuclear weapons state and India, Pakistan are states with nuclear weapons, but not the participants of NPT, the nuclear factor has been one of the key challenges in this complex strategic chain.
Three states are influenced by the external impact, particularly from the USA, that makes China look for its own version of Mutual Assured Destruction, India to apply to the Credible minimum deterrence and Pakistan develop its Full spectrum deterrence, deterring India at all levels. It contributes to the different views on strategic stability: China vis-à-vis the US and Pakistan vis-à-vis India believe that instability enhances their nuclear deterrence, fostering the disparity in conventional and nuclear capabilities, while strengthening the asymmetry in objectives of strategic stability.
To cope with the rising controversies and disputes, reducing the nuclear risk, India, China and Pakistan should develop the strategic dialogue to understand each other’s threat perceptions. The three states should also formulate the coordinated statements on role of nuclear weapons and doctrines, prolonging the universal formalization of the “No first use” principle, while further developing the joint studies on effects of nuclear deterrence breakdown.
The seminar ended with a question and answer session.
You can watch the seminar using a link
This event is an output of a research project “South Asia and the Challenges of Global Politics”, implemented as part of the HSE University Project Group Competition at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs.