Emerging Nexus Between Space Weaponization and Missile Shield: Impact on South Asian Strategic Stability

Abstract

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan outstanding territorial disputes have been haunting stability and peace in South Asia. Having fought three conventional wars and indulged in routine border skirmishes, the two sides after their overt nuclearization in 1998 have shown restraint and did not let border skirmishes, Kargil border conflict and acts of terrorism by the non-state actors to transform into major conflict or an allout war. India being the region’s core state with revisionist posture has an aim of becoming great power, for which it has been maximizing its military power. New Delhi’s hegemonic designs and increasing military capabilities pose existential threat to Pakistan. Therefore, Islamabad has been struggling to maintain the full spectrum deterrence capability. Indeed, the prevalent status-quo due to strategic equilibrium in the region doesn’t gel with Indian ambition of winning great power status and is thus, on a course to exploit its outer space expertise as a tool to shift the Balance of Power (BoP) in her own favor. The Indians capability of launching satellites through its state of the art Space Launch Vehicles (SLVs) and development of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) are being manipulated not only for checkmating Pakistan’s missile based deterrence credibility, but also for achieving space control - hegemony or supremacy in space. Pakistan announced its Space Vision 2047 encompassing its developmental and national security needs in December 2017. Foregoing in view, Pakistan could be compelled to address a totally new kind of threat in the form of Indian probable space weaponization and thus might build its own counter space-control capabilities (space weapons) as a victim of yet another action- reaction syndrome. Ironically, there is no bi-lateral legal treaty that exists between the two, to address the arms race dilemma. India doesn’t want to be entangled at bi-lateral level and remains dismissive towards Pakistan’s peace building offers. The evolving threat has to be addressed at political and diplomatic levels so that to maintain peace and stability in South Asia.