This book analyses India and Pakistan’s decision to ‘go nuclear’ against the odds of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty-based nuclear order. It reflects upon the key factors that contributed to, and the process that prompted India and Pakistan’s nuclear programmes to take a military orientation, which eventually culminated in the May 1998 nuclear tests. It also explains the motivation which underscored both India and Pakistan’s determination to advance nuclear postures in 1998 that appeared to be inconsistent with the post-Cold War global strategic environment. Further, this book explains why international and regional nuclear non-proliferation regimes were ineffective in preventing India and Pakistan from going nuclear.

The Author: Bhumitra Chakma lectures in international politics in the School of History and Politics at Adelaide University, Australia. He previously taught in International Relations Department at Dhaka University, Bangladesh.