India-Pakistan Strategic Relations

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India and Pakistan have experienced ongoing conflict since their creation post-decolonization, leading to multiple wars and armed clashes. The expectation was that their status as nuclear powers would alter their approach to warfare, as International Relations theory suggests that nuclear-armed states typically avoid direct conflict. However, the dynamics in South Asia challenge this assumption. India's conventional military advantage is countered by Pakistan's nuclear capabilities, which should theoretically reduce Pakistan's risk-taking behavior. Contrary to these expectations, the nuclear status has seemingly exacerbated tensions and increased the frequency of armed confrontations. Bluth and Mumtaz investigate this paradoxical effect of nuclearization on the India-Pakistan conflict, focusing on the stability of this unusual strategic relationship. They argue that the prevailing paradigms in International Relations literature fail to adequately explain the complexities of their interactions and aim to develop a more coherent framework. This analysis is essential for those interested in International Relations and conflict resolution research.