Abstract: William W. Kaufmann assessed the efficacy of the United States’ strategy of massive retaliation, introduced in January 1954 by then Secretary of State John F. Dulles, on three areas: capability, cost, and intention. Having established parity between New Delhi’s current interpretation of massive retaliation and that of Dulles in 1954, this article applies Kaufmann’s framework to gauge the credibility of India’s strategy of massive retaliation. Taking cognizance of current developments in India–Pakistan relations and of India’s evolving strategic priorities, this article argues that conditions neither exist nor could be created for massive retaliation to be a credible strategy of nuclear deterrence for India.
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