Nuclear proliferation in South Asia

Economic sanctions are one of the most commonly used foreign policy tools b ut their effectiveness is a continuing source of debate. This note attempts to analyze the efficacy of the economic sanctions imposed on India and Pak istan both before and after their decision to conduct nuclear tests in 1998 . In doing so it becomes clear that it is critical to assess both the histo rical tensions between India and Pakistan as well as their present security concerns. The need for such a contextual approach becomes clear when compa ring India and Pakistan to Argentina and Brazil, two countries that success fully gave up their nuclear weapons programs. Regional tensions and nationa l security concerns dictate that sanctions must be used only in the context of broader foreign policy initiatives that act more broadly than sanctions .