Abstract
The formal introduction of nuclear weapons into South Asian regional security raises important questions about the stability of the region. As two traditionally hostile states induct nuclear weapons and sophisticated delivery systems into their militaries, what will keep them from utilizing these new weapons for coercion or warfare? Proliferation “optimists” argue that states will be deterred from destabilizing actions by the inherent mismatch in costs and benefits or risks and potential gains from challenging a nuclear-armed adversary. Proliferation “pessimists” point to the dangers of the spread of nuclear weapons; the myriad of things that can go wrong once nuclear weapons are introduced into an already heated conflict situation; and the lack of careful thought and planning that might go into the development, deployment, and use of nuclear forces.