Minimum Nuclear Deterrence Postures in South Asia: An Overview
Abstract
This overview of India's and Pakistan's presumed minimal nuclear deterrence postures is part of ongoing research on nuclear strategies and defense postures involving relatively small numbers of nuclear weapons sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Advanced Systems and Concepts Office (DTRA/ASCO). The segment on India and Pakistan was conceived by the sponsor as part of a preliminary compilation of open sources on the nuclear defense policies and capabilities of states subscribing to some form of minimal deterrence -- the others being the United Kingdom, France, and China. That project was inspired by the need to contribute background analyses for the US nuclear posture review. The aim was to have these analyses available for subsequent use by analysts at DTRA/ASCO and elsewhere. The South Asia segment here addresses what is currently known from public sources about Indian and Pakistani nuclear postures, policies, strategies, forces, command and control issues, delivery system acquisition trends, and plausible doctrinal evolution. It provides a basic framework of analysis, initial database, and preliminary bibliography, to be refined and updated over time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA460305
Entities
People
- Rodney W. Jones