Pravin Sawhney

A good beginning has been made by India and Pakistan in the recently concluded two-day meeting on nuclear issues. The masterstroke of the joint statement, purportedly worked out by India’s National Security Advisor, J.N. Dixit and his Pakistani counterpart, Tariq Aziz, is the acknowledgement that respective nuclear weapons capabilities, which are based on individual national security imperatives, constitutes a factor for stability.

This formal statement has three implications: One, a nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles arms race is ruled out as both sides will decide for themselves what constitutes a credible minimum nuclear deterrent based upon their national security needs. This dispenses the requirement for matching nukes and their delivery systems numbers with one another as is the case with conventional capabilities. Both sides, however, will continue to better their nukes arsenal to enhance its credibility. For this reason, Pakistan has agreed to consider the Indian proposal that technical parameters be included in pre-notification of testing of ballistic missiles. Chan