Terrorist attack in India may lead to nuclear war: US experts

Published February 28, 2015
The image shows Hatf 4, Shaheen I, test fired from an undisclosed location. —Online/File
The image shows Hatf 4, Shaheen I, test fired from an undisclosed location. —Online/File
. — Reuters/File
. — Reuters/File

WASHINGTON: A major terrorist attack in India might lead to a large-scale military assault on Pakistan, which then could lead to a nuclear war in one of the world’s most populous regions, the US Congress was told.

Two US experts on South Asian affairs — George Perkovich and Ashley Tellis — presented the doom’s day scenario before a Senate panel earlier this week.

The US Senate and the House of Representatives held a series of hearings this week to consider the Obama administration’s budget proposals for 2016.

While debating the US State Department’s proposals for foreign aid, lawmakers invited senior US officials — including Secretary of State John Kerry — and think-tank experts to explain the administration’s foreign policy.

Take a look: Pakistan's support to LeT will likely be an irritant: US Intelligence Director

During one of these hearings, the two experts argued that Pakistan might use nuclear weapons against India if the latter launched a large-scale military assault in retaliation for a major terror attack from across the border.

“South Asia is the most likely place nuclear weapons could be detonated in the foreseeable future. This risk derives from the unusual dynamic of the India-Pakistan competition,” said Mr Perkovich, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Mr Tellis of the same institute urged the United States to use its influence to preventing a terrorist attack.

“Other than this, there is little that the United States can do to preserve deterrence stability between two asymmetrically-sized states where the gap in power promises to become even wider tomorrow than it is today,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Beyond the surplus
Updated 20 Jul, 2025

Beyond the surplus

Long-term solution to our recurring balance-of-payments crises lies in resolving the structural gaps.
Dire straits
20 Jul, 2025

Dire straits

THE state has a major problem on its hands. The people of KP are repeatedly making it clear that they have no ...
Attack mindset
20 Jul, 2025

Attack mindset

HAVING begun Mike Hesson’s era as head coach with a convincing home Twenty20 series victory against Bangladesh,...
Rain havoc
Updated 19 Jul, 2025

Rain havoc

Thursday’s events must be seen not as an isolated disaster, but as a warning of what lies ahead.
Shattered Strip
19 Jul, 2025

Shattered Strip

THE Gaza siege has now crossed 650 days and the situation continues to take one ugly turn after another. True, even...
Battling drugs
19 Jul, 2025

Battling drugs

PAKISTAN’s war on drug trafficking has been ongoing for several years. But the country remains awash in the ...