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Theories of deterrence, which put forward propositions about the nature and mechanisms of  deterrence, were mostly developed during the first Cold War era (1945-1963) and dealt with the US-Soviet confrontation. The theory of nuclear deterrence is largely an American product, though there were significant British and French theorists. The troubled relations between India and Pakistan have been a rapidly evolving laboratory for nuclear deterrence theory. A review of the deterrence literature suggests several facets of deterrence theory that are relevant in the India- Pakistan context. Deterrence is an old phenomenon which received new significance with the development of the atomic bomb. Discussions of deterrence often start with a Roman proverb, Si vis pacem, para bellum: If one wants peace, prepare for war.