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Abstract
This article is a scholarly review of the book "Indo-Pak Nuclear Standoff: The Role of the United States" by the eminent strategic analyst P.R. Chari. The reviewer summarizes the book's central arguments, which analyze the dynamics of the undeclared nuclear competition between India and Pakistan and the role of the United States as a key third party. The review highlights the book's analysis of US non-proliferation policy in South Asia and its efforts to manage regional crises. The reviewer assesses the strengths of Chari's analysis, his deep expertise, and the policy relevance of his conclusions. The review also offers a critical perspective, engaging with the book's arguments and interpretations. It concludes by affirming the book's importance as a significant contribution to the literature on South Asian security and nuclear proliferation.
Full Text
This article provides a critical review of P.R. Chari's timely and important book, "Indo-Pak Nuclear Standoff: The Role of the United States." The review begins by positioning the book as an essential text for understanding the complex triangular relationship between India, Pakistan, and the US in the nuclear domain. It summarizes the author's main thesis: that while the nuclear standoff is driven by the indigenous rivalry between India and Pakistan, the policies of the United States have been a critical factor in shaping its trajectory. The reviewer discusses the key themes of the book, including Chari's detailed analysis of the evolution of the Indian and Pakistani nuclear programs, his critique of the inconsistencies in US non-proliferation policy towards the region, and his assessment of the role of the US in defusing several near-war crises between the two South Asian rivals. The review would praise the book for its balanced and nuanced perspective, which avoids taking sides and instead offers a sober analysis of the strategic logics of all three actors. The review concludes by establishing the book as a work of major scholarly and policy significance, an indispensable resource for anyone seeking to understand the perilous dynamics of the nuclear standoff in South Asia and the complex challenges of managing proliferation in a volatile region.