DefinePK

Abstract

In the aftermath of the Pulwama incident, several questions arise; to what extent did nuclear deterrence serve in preventing a full-scale conventional war between the two nations? The study aims to evaluate the role of nuclear deterrence in preventing a large-scale conventional war between India and Pakistan post-Pulwama crisis. The study finds that post-Pulwama crisis marked a major period in the relationship between Pakistan and India when both nations reached on the verge of conventional war, but despite the tense situation, the risks of nuclear war were minimum because of the role of nuclear deterrence in de-escalating the tense situation between Pakistan and India. Key restraining factors in the de-escalation of the post-Pulwama crisis were as Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) which applies to the fact that both the attacker and the attacked would be fully destroyed if a nuclear war takes place between them, the  nuclear postures and doctrines of India and Pakistan played a key role in deterring both nations from attacking each other with nuclear weapons and Lastly, international pressures and mediation efforts cannot be sidelined when it comes to de-escalating the tense situation between Pakistan and India after Pulwama attack. The study provides a conceptual framework understating role of nuclear deterrence in deterring a conventional war between Pakistan.