Limited Conflict Under the Nuclear Umbrella : Indian and Pakistani Lessons from the Kargil Crisis (2001)

This report examines the views of India and Pakistan on the significance of Pakistan_s foray into the Kargil Dras sector in a limited war that has come to be known as the Kargil conflict. The goal of the analysis is to assess both combatants_ perceptions of the crisis, with a view to evaluating the possibilities of future Kargil like events and the implications of the lessons each country learned for stability in South Asia. The analysis is based almost exclusively on Indian and Pakistani source materials.The Kargil crisis demonstrated that even the presence of nuclear weapons might not appreciably dampen security competition between the region_slargest states. However, the question remains of whether or not the Kargil war represents a foretaste of future episodes of attempted nuclear coercionif India and Pakistan believe that their nuclear capabilities provide them the immunity required to prosecute a range of military operations short of allout war. This Report Examines The Views Of India And Pakistan On The Significance Of Pakistan's Foray Into The Kargil-dras Sector In A Limited War That Has Come To Be Known As The Kargil Conflict. The Goal Of The Analysis Is To Assess Both Combatants' Perceptions Of The Crisis, With A View To Evaluating The Possibilities Of Future Kargil-like Events And The Implications Of The Lessons Each Country Learned For Stability In South Asia. The Analysis Is Based Almost Exclusively On Indian And Pakistani Source Materials. The Kargil Crisis Demonstrated That Even The Presence Of Nuclear Weapons Might Not Appreciably Dampen Security Competition Between The Region's Largest States. However, The Question Remains Of Whether Or Not The Kargil War Represents A Foretaste Of Future Episodes Of Attempted Nuclear Coercion If India And Pakistan Believe That Their Nuclear Capabilities Provide Them The Immunity Required To Prosecute A Range Of Military Operations Short Of All-out War.--rand Abstracts. Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. The Significance Of The Kargil Crisis -- Ch. 3. Kargil: Lessons Learned On Both Sides -- Ch. 4. Options For The Future -- Ch. 5. Conclusion: Kargil And South Asian Stability. Ashley J. Tellis, C. Christine Fair, Jamison Jo Medby. Mr-1450. Prepared For The United States Communication Agency. Includes Bibliographical References.
This report examines the views of India and Pakistan on the significance ofPakistan_s foray into the Kargil-Dras sector in a limited war that has cometo be known as the Kargil conflict. The goal of the analysis is to assessboth combatants_ perceptions of the crisis, with a view to evaluating thepossibilities of future Kargil-like events and the implications of thelessons each country learned for stability in South Asia. The analysis isbased almost exclusively on Indian and Pakistani source materials.The Kargil crisis demonstrated that even the presence of nuclear weaponsmight not appreciably dampen security competition between the region_slargest states. However, the question remains of whether or not the Kargilwar represents a foretaste of future episodes of attempted nuclear coercionif India and Pakistan believe that their nuclear capabilities provide themthe immunity required to prosecute a range of military operations short ofall-out war. In the spring of 1999, the world slowly came to know of Pakistan's foray into the Kargil-Dras sector in a limited war that has come to be known as the "Kargil conflict."