Thank you Muse, for the invitation, even though I disagree with you on Pakistani members' intellectual capacities... I think you are one of the smartest members in here, and you are a Pakistani. I hope we do not get fooled by the crowd blocking the sane voices.
A key conclusion to emerge from the meeting was that discussion on nuclear issues and CBMs in this sphere could not be divorced from the wider context of lack of political trust and unresolved disputes among these nations, which remained the cause of recurring tensions. Unless strategic matters were discussed as part of overall relations they could not be meaningfully addressed, said a Chinese speaker. Indian participants concurred and urged broadening of the trialogue agenda. Others agreed that the underlying causes of tensions had to be addressed to establish the political foundation for nuclear confidence building and strategic stability.
The perceived threat is that of a nuclear standoff (just hoping it's not a war). In Pakistan, with the widening gap between India's and Pakistan's military power, the threshold (nuclear) has come down considerably, and is expected to go down even further if the tensions continue and Pakistan keeps feeling the pressure.
The case of India and China is very similar, but to walk the extra mile, India also frantically reached out to other nations to build a common ground against China. This diplomatic counter by India has assured both the nations of a high nuclear threshold.
Now, all these three countries are nuclear powers. So how is it that, at this juncture (and no before) - despite all the similar efforts in the past, solutions can found to appease all the parties when all of them are aware of the deterrence they practice?
Could you please, in your words elaborate (or even be brief) on the utility of such trialogues and even the CBMs
but - strictly with respect to India?
Oh, about others saying how China is the bigger enemy - Given the terrain between the two countries and the tech that China has, it can not be countered with just the army, and that is why Indians went on such a big shopping in the past few years. The major part of the Indian Army will remain deployed on the western borders since the likelihood of an offensive coming from Pakistani side is much greater than that of any attack coming from the Chinese side. And yet, any attack, no matter how unlikely, coming from the China will be much more difficult to counter than the ones coming from Pakistan. Thus the long range missile tests, and the deployment of newer expensive war machines on the eastern side, while a major chunk of the army stays on the western border.
And practically speaking, Pakistan is just as big a threat to India as is China.
After having had cannabis laden snacks on Holi, I am almost falling asleep on the keyboard... so if I failed to make any sense here, please forgive me.
