Introduction

The India–Pakistan enduring rivalry has survived the twentieth century, and demonstrates little signs of termination in the foreseeable future. While many other rivalries have ceased to exist owing to external or internal shocks, this rivalry continues to be prolonged, even though the international system has transformed from a bipolar to a near unipolar system while substantial changes have occurred in many regions of the world. What explains the prolongation of this rivalry? Is this a unique case in world politics? Under what conditions would the enduring rivalry witness changes in the relationship between the parties with the potential to terminate the conflict? These salient questions need addressing for a better understanding of the rivalry and its resolution possibilities.

The dimensions of the India–Pakistan rivalry are many, as is the case with most long-running rivalries, and there may not be one answer to the question why its termination has been so difficult compared to some other enduring rivalries in the world. Nonetheless, one of the crucial factors contributing to the continuation of the rivalry is the possession of nuclear weapons by the dyad. A rivalry can end with a war or a thaw in the relationship for diplomacy to take precedence over coercion, which can be stimulated by external pressures from great powers. It may be difficult for any of these to occur in the presence of nuclear weapons.