The Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies and Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy present:
Fragile Frontiers: Deterrence, Identity, and Nationalisms in South Asia
Date: April 17, 2026
Time: 12-2 PM (food provided)
Location: IAB 1512
Registration Link: https://events.columbia.edu/go/indiapakistan
Speakers:
Mona Bhan, Ford-Maxwell Professor of South Asian Studies, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Syracuse University
Rumela Sen, Lecturer, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
Niloufer Siddiqui, Associate professor of political science, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY)
Sushant Singh, Lecturer, South Asian Studies, South Asian Studies Council, MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies, Yale University
Description:
Since the May 2025 ceasefire, India and Pakistan have maintained a fragile peace marked by strategic restraint and underlying volatility. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s description of India’s retaliatory strikes as the “new normal” signals a shift in regional deterrence, even as nationalist media narratives, nuclear signaling, and the unresolved status of Kashmir continue to fuel violence and instability. This interdisciplinary panel will examine current India-Pakistan relations through the intersecting lenses of media, history, security, and regional politics, tying into a broader discussion about nationalism and nation-building practices in South Asia. Moving beyond Western media headlines, the discussion will seek to understand the deeper structural, political, and strategic drivers of instability and power that currently shape India and Pakistan’s relationship.
This event is part of the Saltzman Institute’s ongoing series, “Beyond the Headlines: Overlooked Conflicts and Prospects for Peace.” The series is made possible with the funding support of Columbia’s Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy.
Campus access:
Please be aware that access to Columbia’s campus is currently limited to active Columbia students, faculty, and staff. Alumni can register for same-day access using this link. If you have questions or concerns about accessing Columbia’s campus for this event, please contact the Saltzman Institute’s Coordinator O.G. Grinberg at ojg2112@columbia.
