India-Pakistan Nuclear Doctrines Keep South Asia at Highest Global Conflict Risk

Eight decades after nuclear weapons were first used at Hiroshima, South Asia has emerged as the world's most volatile nuclear flashpoint. India and Pakistan both possess comparable nuclear arsenals, but operate under fundamentally different strategic doctrines. India adheres to a No First Use policy combined with a credible minimum deterrent, while Pakistan follows a full-spectrum deterrence approach designed to offset its conventional military disadvantage. These contrasting postures create an asymmetric strategic balance that heightens the risk of escalation in the region.