Publication

This brief examines Pakistan's nuclear policies as a civilian government completes a full term in office for the first time in the nation's history. The authors argue that, while democratic progress has occurred, Islamabad's expanding nuclear arsenal has worrying implications. They say it has negative impacts upon state-society relations and that the strategic situation between Pakistan and India remains tense. The authors conclude that Pakistan needs to focus on consolidating its fiscal base and strengthening the links between state and society in order to foster internal cohesion.