South Asia

Abstract

The effects of the US's likely decision to deploy a national missile defense system on India's & Pakistan's respective nuclear policies are considered. Overviews of the South Asian region's concern with US national missile defense & of US policy toward nuclear weapons in India & Pakistan are provided. It is contended that three factors will significantly influence India's response: how the People's Republic of China (PRC) responds to US deployment of anti-ballistic missile defenses; changes in the perception of the US's ability to intervene in international crises; & the ongoing domestic security debate. Several factors that would influence Pakistan's response are identified, eg, the PRC's & North Korea's respective responses; in addition, multiple possible reactions to US deployment of a national missile defense system are considered, eg, the creation of a regional alliance with China & perhaps India to ensure regional security. Several conclusions are reached, eg, a lack of sincere diplomacy by the US in renegotiating the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty could foster a multipolar nuclear global community. J. W. Parker