Asian Journal of Scientific Research1992-14542077-2076Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ajsr.2015.80.94MoorthyRavichandran SumHau Khan BennyGuido 1201581The India-Pakistan rivalry is an inheritance of past antagonism. Both countries
have fought three wars and several bloody conflicts over the possession of Kashmir.
This territorial dispute which originated soon after the India-Pakistan partition
in 1947, has been a major impediment in their bilateral relations for more than
six decades. To address this security dilemma, both countries have acquired
nuclear capability to balance each other. This situation has led to arms race
and increased hostility in their relations. This article examines how nuclear
capability is used in the balance
of power between India and Pakistan. It argues that, in an asymmetrical power
relations, countries may seek to balance each other through military alliances
or by developing nuclear arsenal. The findings suggest an asymmetric power balance
between these two countries, favouring the Indian side. The nuclear card, coupled
with other security options, has been employed by both countries to gradually
balance each other. The nuclear option has also given Pakistan a better bargaining
power in its negotiations in managing the Kashmir dispute and other contentious
issues with India.]]>Alagappa, M.,2009Pages: 571Pages: 571Albright, D. and P. Brannan,20062006Balakrishnan, K.S.,19981998Bose, S.,1997Pages: 211Pages: 211Burr, W.,20132013Chellaney, B.,20022002Choudhuri, M.A.,1993Pages: 474Pages: 474Diamond, H.,19991999Dixit, J.N.,2002Ganguly, S.,1994Hilali, A.Z.,20022002Indian Parliament,19981998Jones, R.W.,20052005NTI.,20122012Kapur, A.,20052005pp: 136-155pp: 136-155Karr, P.K. and M.B. Nikitin,20092009Khan, A.,20092009Khan, J.,201066179Krishna, A.,1998Pages: 181Pages: 181Kristensen, H.M.,20132013Kristensen, H.M. and R.S. Norris,20126896101Kristensen, H.M. and R.S. Norris,2011679199Lamont, J. and F. Bokhari,20082008Lavoy, P.R. and M.A.J.S.A. Smith,20032003Izuyama, M. and S. Ogawa,20032003McMahon, R.J.,1994Pages: 431Pages: 431Mahdi, N.,1999Pages: 316Pages: 316Menon, R.,2000Pages: 320Pages: 320Mishra, R.K.,200529101130Mudiam, P.R.,200315263276Norris, R.S. and H.M. Kristensen,2007637173Paul, T.V.,1994Pages: 248Pages: 248Paul, T.V.,2005Pages: 273Pages: 273Perkovich, G.,19939185104Perkovich, G.,1999Pages: 641Pages: 641Rahman, M.,1996Pages: 219Pages: 219Rajain, A.,2005Pages: 495Pages: 495Saeed, Y.,2004273451Shadid-ur-Rehman,20082008Smith, C.,1994Pages: 267 Pages: 267 Soherwordi, S.H.S.,2010252137Squassoni, S.,20052005Thomas, R.G.C.,20042004pp: 305-334pp: 305-334Thomas, R.G.C.,1996Tkacik, M.,201024175217UNDESA.,20122012Waltz, K.N.,1979Pages: 251Pages: 251Weiss, L.,2003593441Wirsing, R.G.,2003Pages: 285Pages: 285Hussain, S.R.,20062006pp: 77-98pp: 77-98Sum, H.K., R. Moorthy and G. Benny,20139155165