First, it is clear that Pakistan’s assertion of nuclear parity and India’s ‘no first use policy’ for its nuclear weapons provided Islamabad with the power of deterrence. ‘Deterrence’ in this context implies one side discouraging the other from undertaking an action by instilling a fear of disproportionate consequences. In the nuclear context, deterrence is a powerful force because of the overwhelmingly destructive nature of these weapons. Under multiple game-theoretic scenarios, the deterrence effect of nuclear weapons makes nuclear war less likely. To a certain extent, the argument goes, this reflects the value of life imputed by the government of the smaller nuclear power to its people.

Source: The Hindu May 28, 2018 18:45 UTC