Political Conflict and Arms Control

Prof. Nasir Mehmood's ground-breaking study of arms control in the sub-continent establishes causal links between the respective asymmetric military doctrines of the adversaries in the Indo-Pakistan security rivalry, and the arms control policy outcomes. His analysis details the foundation and strengthening of tacit cooperation in Islamabad's and New Delhi's nuclear age arms control measures from 1988 to 2008. This will be an important resource for scholars and policy analysts focusing on nuclear security relations in one of the most important emerging regions of the world. -- Dr. Julian Spencer-Churchill, Concordia University In this book, Nasir Mahmood has brought back the value of the arms control debate between India and Pakistan, covering the technical and theoretical dimensions in-depth. He correlates political conflicts to arms control outcomes, which have proven arms control difficult to achieve between the two nuclear possessor states. It is essential reading for students and practitioners interested in learning about the India-Pakistan arms control experience. -- Rizwana Abbasi, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad Nasir Mehmood's Political Conflict and Arms Control: Pakistan-India Policy Analysis 1988-2008 examines one of the world's most dangerous strategic rivalries to explain the limitations and obstacles to successful arms control cooperation between regional nuclear powers. Mehmood makes a thoughtful and persuasive case for focusing on the underlying political context shaping the perceptions and preferences of leaders to explain the frustrating history of arms control between India and Pakistan during three distinct episodes between 1988 and 2008. This is an impressive book that students of arms control as well as specialists in security on the subcontinent will find informative and thought provoking. -- David W. Kearn Jr., Associate Professor, St. John's University