Pakistan's nuclear policy amid the Russia–Ukraine conflict.

The Russia–Ukraine war has reignited global debates on the role of nuclear weapons, particularly concerning security guarantees and deterrence. This article examines Pakistan's nuclear policy, which developed outside the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and was shaped by pressing regional security concerns, particularly Pakistan's relationship with India. Unlike non-nuclear-armed states such as Ukraine, which have relied on security assurances under the Budapest Memorandum, Pakistan's decision to pursue nuclear capabilities reflected a deep skepticism toward such external security commitments. While Pakistan's case is distinct in the country's development of nuclear weapons as a non-NPT state, it also serves to highlight the ongoing challenges faced by non-nuclear states within the global nonproliferation regime. Despite growing global attention to nuclear weapons in light of the Russia–Ukraine war, this article argues that the nonproliferation framework remains resilient, even as global conflicts test its boundaries. For non-nuclear-armed states, the path to nuclear weapons remains fraught with diplomatic, economic, and security barriers, suggesting that, while nuclear deterrence remains central for states such as Pakistan, widespread nuclear proliferation remains unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]