Indian strategy threatens South Asian security: experts

Experts have raised concerns that India's strategic approach, driven by ultra-nationalist Hindutva philosophy, is threatening regional security in South Asia. At a workshop in Islamabad, retired Maj Gen Syed Shahab Shahid, director general of Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs at the Strategic Plans Division, warned that India's leadership is jeopardising the "security calculus" of the region.

The workshop, organised by the Centre for International Strategic Studies, brought together policymakers, military officials, diplomats, and experts to discuss the evolving strategic landscape and its implications for nuclear stability and arms control. CISS Executive Director Ambassador Ali Sarwar Naqvi emphasized the need for a broader understanding of strategic stability, looking beyond traditional measures of military power.

The discussions came at a time when the New START Treaty is set to expire and there is no bilateral arms control arrangement between major nuclear powers. The workshop also examined India's military modernisation, changing force posture, and how emerging technologies could impact future conflicts in South Asia.