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Reinvigorating South Asian Nuclear Transparency and Confidence-building Measures

Cover of Reinvigorating South Asian Nuclear Transparency and Confidence-building Measures
September 2021
Stockholm
SIPRI

This SIPRI Insights paper explores a series of nuclear transparency and confidence-building measures (CBMs) proposed by military, nuclear, political and regional experts from China, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States to address nuclear challenges in South Asia. It categorizes these bilateral, trilateral and multilateral measures into doctrinal dialogues and joint threat assessment exercises; communication lines, pre-notification and de-alerting; and development and employment of strategic technologies. The paper then provides a spectrum of viability across which it identifies proposals with the greatest potential, moderate potential and the least potential for reinvigorating nuclear transparency measures and CBMs in South Asia.

Table of contents

I. Introduction

II. Nuclear transparency measures and CBMs    

III. Viability spectrum for nuclear transparency measures and CBMs   

IV. Conclusions

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S)/EDITORS

Dr Lora Saalman is a Senior Researcher within SIPRI’s Armament and Disarmament and Conflict, Peace and Security research areas.
Dr Petr Topychkanov is an Associate Senior Researcher in the SIPRI Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme.