Technological Determinism and Strategic Stability: Implications of Indian Hypersonic Weapons Technology for Pakistan

Abstract

This research posits that Indian development of hypersonic weapons is likely to undermine the strategic stability of South Asia because hypersonic weapons would incentivize India to contemplate counterforce options against Pakistan. Using a combine of technological determinism and strategic stability theories, this study explores the Indian hypersonic technology based weapon systems and how they might denunciate strategic stability dynamics in South Asia. The study explains implications of Indian hypersonic weapons on Pakistan’s deterrence stability. The study finds that technological determinism caused by hypersonic weapons would compel India to harbor preemptive counterforce strike ambitions against Pakistan’s nuclear forces. Also, in a crisis situation Indian decision makers are likely to be emboldened by possession of hypersonic weapons technology and take escalatory steps instead of crisis mitigation. In response Pakistan should enhance its second strike capability by increasing number of nuclear capable submarines and by increasing the range of Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile. Pakistan needs to work on dispersion and camouflage/concealment of her nuclear assets; and develop her own hypersonic technology in collaboration with China. These measures by Pakistan would help maintain strategic stability in South Asia.