Nuclear Neighbors on Edge: The Enduring Conflict Between India and Pakistan

The nuclear doctrines of India and Pakistan, while both aimed at deterrence, differ in significant ways. India has declared a "No First Use" (NFU) policy, committing to using nuclear weapons only in retaliation to a first nuclear strike. However, in recent years, there have been indications of a potential shift towards a more ambiguous stance. Pakistan, on the other hand, has not adopted an NFU policy, reserving the option of using nuclear weapons first, particularly in the face of an overwhelming conventional military threat from India. This asymmetry in doctrines adds to the instability of the region, as Pakistan might feel compelled to consider a first strike in a conventional conflict to offset India's larger military.