The India-Pakistan Rivalry Explained: History, Nukes & What Happens Next

Описание: For nearly eight decades, the relationship between India and Pakistan has shaped the destiny of over 1.5 billion people and influenced global geopolitics. Born from the traumatic partition of British India in 1947, these two nations have fought multiple wars, developed nuclear weapons, and maintained one of the world’s most militarized borders, all while sharing deep cultural, linguistic, and historical ties.

Recent escalations in 2025 have once again brought this complex rivalry into sharp focus, reminding the world of the stakes involved when nuclear-armed neighbors clash. But to truly understand today’s tensions, we must look beyond current headlines to the deeper historical forces that continue to drive this relationship.

Ambassador Michael Pelletier discusses the contemporary dynamics, including the paradox of economic interdependence existing alongside political hostility, the role of domestic politics in shaping foreign policy on both sides, and how regional players like China are changing the strategic landscape. He also explores the strategic challenges of balancing regional stability with national interests, and both the opportunities and limitations for American diplomatic influence in this volatile relationship.

Featured Speaker: Ambassador Michael Pelletier

Ambassador (ret.) Michael Pelletier is the founding Executive Director of the Aspire Initiative Endowed Institute for Global Engagement at the University of Houston. A career diplomat from 1987 to 2021, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros, Deputy Chief of Mission in India, and held senior roles at the State Department, including Dean at the Foreign Service Institute. He holds degrees from Georgetown, Sciences Po Paris, and Columbia, and is fluent in English, French, and Arabic. Ambassador Pelletier is a member of several distinguished foreign policy organizations and has received numerous awards, including the Presidential Meritorious Service Award.