Introduction

This chapter begins by elaborating on the concept of minimum deterrence, framing it within the terms of the Cold War-era debate between the seminal thinkers Albert Wohlstetter and Patrick Blackett, whose ideas capture the essential differences between the alternative strategies of assured destruction and minimum deterrence. It explains the processes of nuclear rivalry are examined with reference to crisis and non-crisis thinking and behaviour. The chapter treats the nuclearstrategic relationship between India and Pakistan as one of a generic type of strategic relationship a nuclear rivalry which displays certain common features over time and space. It utilises a comparative perspective to assess the relevance of the competing conceptions of deterrence advocated by Wohlstetter and Blackett by looking at historical practice by nuclear rivals generally and, more specifically, by India and Pakistan. Finally the chapter sketches out the implications of the comparison and assesses the future of IndiaPakistan nuclearstrategic relations.