STRATEGIC STABILITY ON THE ANVIL: INDIA-PAKISTAN-CHINA TRIANGLE

Abstract

In the backdrop of persistent tensions between China and India, and India and Pakistan,strategic stability in South Asia is jeopardized. The unresolved issues that brittleregional strategic stability, such as Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) dispute, nuclear and conventional arms race, and quadrilateral balancing relation between the US, China, India and Pakistan mar India-Pakistan relations. Out of these issues, J&K remains the central point of conflict to the acrimonious relationship between India and Pakistan. It has repeatedly triggeredconventional escalations between the two. Additionally, India also claims part of the Aksai Chin - a region administered by China- and eastern portion of the larger J&Kwhich has been the subject of a dispute between India and China since the late 1950s.In this context, variables undermining the prospects for long term peace - among others - include growing mutual mistrust, low-intensity conflicts (LICs), increasing conventional asymmetries, nuclear unrest, rapid advancement in weapon technologies, growing size of nuclear arsenals, doctrinal mismatch, and above all, bilateral jams in cooperation towards a stable region. China has emerged as a power balancer in South Asia particularly during the Pulwama Incident. It is continuously echoing with Pakistan’s stance on J&K, equally voicing concerns on Indian belligerent behaviour and actions in J&K. In the sequel, the actionable recommendationcan be instrumental in achieving greater stability, which is essential for South Asian peace.