India should declare that AI will not be used to autonomously launch nuclear weapons

A quarter century has passed since India did six atomic tests and reported its desire to be an atomic power.

Seven tests by Pakistan were the response. The following was a worldwide condemnation. Sanctions were enacted by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. A year later, despite the fact that neither nation had any operational nuclear weapons capability at the time, the Kargil conflict, which was limited in terms of geography and force, was fought in the nuclear shadow. However, it played a role and contained the conflict to some unknown extent.

The nuclear gloom has grown to encompass the India-China and India-Pakistan dyads over the past quarter of a century. A shift toward the India-China dyad that is already taking place and is connected to the larger global geopolitical conflict between the West and the China-Russia combination may intensify over the next ten years.

Pakistan’s nuclear capability, which has benefited from Chinese assistance since the beginning, is shaped by the expansion of China’s nuclear capabilities, which also has an impact on India’s capabilities. In point of fact, declassified CIA documents showed that Pakistan received a design for the nuclear weapon that was tested in Lop Nor, its weapons testing site, from China. The Americans likewise accept that the test was seen by a senior military official from Pakistan. This kind of covert assistance has continued and is likely to continue.

Challenges from technology The seemingly insurmountable territorial disputes that exist between China and India and India and Pakistan are overshadowed by the escalating geopolitical tensions in the world. These tensions are brought on by technological advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber technology, nanotechnology, robotics, hypersonics, and additive manufacturing. India and Pakistan also have territorial disputes with China. It is certain that more technologies will be added. The highlight note is that all or a large portion of these innovations have the possibility to influence atomic weapons and their conveyance, as well as reconnaissance, order and control frameworks which are the significant parts of the atomic stockpile.

In India’s nuclear doctrine, which is based on No First Use, one of the most important aspects, the nuclear arsenal’s survivability, could be significantly impacted by all of the aforementioned technologies. These advances are additionally in the double use classification, spreading over regular citizen and military capabilities. They can also improve their offensive and defensive skills. The atomic weapons contest is fueled by the response among hostile and guarded abilities. The continuous tussle between hypersonic rockets and hostile to rocket capacity is an able delineation. Technology will undoubtedly continue to chase its tail.

The Indian test is accordingly organized inside its capacities to foster the advancements and consolidate them in the modernisation of its atomic armory. This while protecting the remedies of atomic tenet perspectives atomic weapons as having just political and not military utility. Meeting this challenge won’t be simple as it calls for monetary assets, common military combination, native limit and innovative participation with amicable nations.