Why not to fear a nuclear war?

Between the 1960s and the 1980s, the cold war between the US and the USSR was such that if the former launched a nuke-mounted missile, Soviet satellites were capable of informing the USSR army in three seconds, and in less than 45 seconds, Moscow would be able to launch its counter-missile. Washington knew that, and therefore, never attempted to launch one. Recent studies commissioned by US Department of Defence included one likely scenario on a nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan army decides to launch a nuke-missile towards India. They don't need any permission from their government, and promptly launch the missile. Indian technology is highly advanced. In less than eight seconds, Indian army detects it and decides to launch a missile in retribution. But they need permission from The Government of India (GOI). They submit their request to the Indian president. The president forwards it to the Cabinet. The prime minister calls an emergency Lok Sabha (LS) session. After three days, when the LS meets, due to several walkouts and severe protest by the opposition, it gets adjourned indefinitely. The president asks for a quick decision.

In the meantime, the Pak missile failed to take off for reasons unknown. Their attempts for a relaunch are still on. Meanwhile, the Indian ruling party is reduced to minority because a party, giving outside support, withdraws support. Therefore, its first task is now to cobble a majority. The president asks the PM to prove majority within a week. Meanwhile, an external affairs spokesman requests Pakistan for some bilateral talks, at the secretary and minister levels. The following week, as the ruling party was not able to get confidence vote, a caretaker government is installed. The acting PM decides to permit the armed forces to launch the Nuclear Missile. But the Election Commission says that a caretaker government cannot take such a decision because elections are at hand and this decision might affect the swing of votes in the election. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is filed in the Supreme Court of India, alleging misuse of power by the Election Commission. The Supreme Court comes to the rescue of the PM, and says the acting PM is authorised to take this decision, in the interests of the nation. In the meanwhile, one of the Pak missiles successfully takes off, but falls 367 miles away from the target on a government building at 11:00 AM. But there were no casualties since no employee had reached the office till then. In any case, the nuclear core of the missile had detached somewhere in flight.

Pakistan army now tries to get better technology from China and the US. The US condemns the use of a nuclear missile by Pakistan, and offers to send its Seventh Fleet to the Arabian Sea. The Indian government declines the offer. New Delhi finally decides to launch a nuclear missile, after first convening an all-party meeting. This time, all the parties agree. It is but three months since the army sought permission.

But this time, some "pro-humanity", antinuclear activists take to the streets against the government's decision. Human chains are being formed in CA, LA and Washington for peace. Many emails, condemning the government, are sent to Indians with the request "Please forward it to as many Indians as possible." On the Pakistan side, the missiles keep failing. Sometimes they fail to take-off, sometimes the payload gets detached from the missile during flight. At other times, the missiles deviate from target due to high-speed winds blowing over Rajasthan, or they have to be neutralised by Pakistan itself, as these are now moving backwards towards Islamabad. A missile (smuggled from the US) is used. Since Pakistan army is unable to understand the software, the contraband missile heads for its original destination: Russia! The Russians successfully intercept the missile and, in retaliation, launch a nuclear missile towards Islamabad. (Note: Russian missiles never fail.) The missile hits the target and creates havoc. Pakistan cries for help. It asks for loans from the IMF and the World Bank. India expresses deep regret for what had happened and sends in a million dollars worth of soap and detergent. So in the end, India never got to launch its missile and Pakistan never got it right.