NUCLEAR SIGNALING IN SOUTH ASIA: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The United States and the Soviet Union released nuclear threats by giving statements and sometimes
by installing nuclear weapons on missiles during the Cold War period. The nuclear signaling from the
two countries effectively stopped the full-fledged war and forced them to involve in Cold War. The
same is the story of South Asia, where India and Pakistan fought three majors wars before the
nuclearization of the two countries within the first twenty-five years of its independence. After the
nuclearization of India and Pakistan, no full-fledged or even limited war has been experienced, and
the real contribution goes to nuclear deterrence. The nuclear threats released from the two countries
averted war in the region between 1987 and 2019. This research uses qualitative methodology with
enriched data collected through semi-structured interviews from expert informants. Furthermore,
this research uses Realist Theory and Thematic Analysis.