Non-nuclear means of deterrence

AJAY LELE of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses questions the continuing relevance of nuclear weapons at the centre of the deterrence debate in India in the wake of the changing nature of threats and proliferation of new and advanced weapons systems. In an article in the Indian Defence Review, "Bows, Arrows and Nuclear Weapons", he calls for India to supplement its existing deterrence mechanism with additional non-nuclear weapons which had the capability to 'deter' and advertise such weapons as weapons of deterrence in the security lexicon.