Seminar: Challenges to India's Nuclear Doctrine | CGSR Seminar

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Center for Global Security Research (CGSR) sponsored this talk entitled “A Covenant Sans Sword:
Challenges to India's Nuclear Doctrine” by Retired Indian Vice Admiral Vijay Shankar on Oct. 6, 2014.
India's nuclear policy faces significant challenges from the opacity of Pakistan’s strategic nuclear thinking and its development of tactical nuclear weapons. The combustible mixture of these factors has not only made it prickly for India to find coherence in its long-term policies, but it has also increased the threat of a nuclear standoff between the two countries. The status-quo is unacceptable for India because Pakistan upholds an ambiguous nuclear doctrine that could have perilous effects if India were to retaliate against an attack on Indian soil. Critics of India's No First Use policy argue that it abrogates the duty of the state to protect its citizens by leaving them vulnerable to a first strike. Can India find a way to strengthen its long-term security without risking nuclear escalation?
Vice Admiral (Retd.) Vijay Shankar PVSM, AVSM is the former commander-in-chief of the Andaman & Nicobar Command, commander-in-chief of the Strategic Forces Command, and flag officer commanding the Western Fleet. He retired on September 30, 2009, after nearly forty-five years in uniform, and today passes down his operational and strategic experience through articles and participation in seminars, and lecturing at various universities. The Admiral is an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies where his papers have been the prime mover for several seminars and workshops; a distinguished fellow and columnist at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies New Delhi; a member of the Forum for Strategic Initiative New Delhi; and the Admiral Katari Chair of Excellence at the United Services Institute India. Internationally, his active participation in dialogues represents a commitment to provide a new paradigm for maritime and nuclear security on the sub-continent. He holds an MSc in Defense Studies and is a graduate of the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, USA, Naval Higher Command College and the Defense Services Staff College India.
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