Geostrategic Transformation: Pakistan’s Options for Deterrence and Strategic Posturing

Abstract

India-Pakistan‘s economic and power resources, geographical size, relative position in international affairs, strategic alignments with the different powerhouses and their asymmetrical military capabilities are divergently nurturing their respective foreign and security policies. In such an asymmetrical geostrategic and power differential equation, it is argued that there are five cardinal options which Pakistan needs to effectively and resolutely focus upon vis-à-vis India: 1) sustaining a sufficient politico-military resilience in crafting its strategic options; 2) effectively exploiting the structural and environmental dynamics to its advantage; 3) consistently restructuring and upgrading its conventional and nuclear deterrent capabilities; 4) sustaining its independent strategic and foreign policy alternatives and balancing them in the realm of inter-state relations; and 5) to systematically and appropriately recalibrate its strategy linked with the India-Pakistan strategic cauldron. In essence, Pakistan‘s flexible politico-military policy, and controlled strategising along with up-gradation of its nuclear-cum-conventional forces, and emitting right signaling, would assist in sustaining an efficacious and balanced deterrence. In the prevalent setting, any conflict – limited or all-out, is not a logical option for the nuclear powers of South Asia.