ISLAMABAD -- India and Pakistan, South Asia's two nuclear-armed neighbors, are once again on the brink of war less than six months after an historic peace summit between their leaders.
A large-scale troop buildup since the Dec. 13 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament has unleashed fears of a new war. Could Pakistan and India afford to start a war in the face of international pressure to resolve their differences? Could they avoid becoming international pariahs after such a war?
Indo-Pakistani friction is bound to downgrade the future of the two countries while inviting the prospect of tough international sanctions. Although the world community may not be able to prevent a conflict, it can work on a threefold strategy to begin to reduce rising tensions: