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

The potential for escalation from a conventional conflict to a nuclear exchange remains a grave concern. Limited conventional engagements, such as border skirmishes or localized military actions, carry the inherent risk of miscalculation or unintended escalation. If either side perceives a significant military disadvantage or fears an imminent defeat in a conventional conflict, the pressure to resort to tactical nuclear weapons could become overwhelming. The use of even low-yield tactical nuclear weapons could have devastating consequences, both in terms of immediate casualties and the potential for further escalation to strategic nuclear strikes.