Contrary to the arguments of proliferation pessimists, this article contends that the overt nuclearization of South Asia has contributed to stability in the region. To that end this article carefully examines two recent crises in Indo-Pakistani relations and concludes that in the absence of nuclear weapons they would have culminated in full-scale war. Accordingly, while Indo-Pakistani relations may remain fraught with tension, the likelihood of major war in the region has dramatically diminished.

• Prof. Sumit Ganguly |
• May 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Atul Mishra |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

The raging Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan underlines the limits of the use of military force. The lack of visible progress on the reconstruction activity and prevailing insecurity has alienated the Afghan populace in the remote villages of South and East Afghanistan. Given that the military option alone has limited utility in Counter-insurgency (COIN), there is a need to exercise an 'out-of-the-box' option to address the present stalemate.

• Shanthie Mariet D’Souza |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• K. Sreedhar Rao |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

Major powers have tried to use military training programmes, manifested through military-to-military cooperation running the gamut of training exchanges to joint exercises, to defence-related dialogues through seminars and the like, in order to engage and influence other countries in the furtherance of their strategic interests. The US model is notable for being innovative, flexible, scalable, and broad in its approach, and this has fetched it considerable dividends.

• Cherian Samuel |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Gulshan Sachdeva |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Subimal Bhattacharjee |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Sanjaya Baru |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

• Abanti Bhattacharya |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NT) are emerging fields of science and technology that are witnessing the emergence of an increasing number of new ideas and applications. Many states are seriously looking at military applications of this technology. This paper analyses the impact of NT on defence and looks at its current and futuristic applicability for military purposes, as well as their likely impact on arms control.

• Ajey Lele |
• March 2009 |
• Strategic Analysis