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The pursuit of nukes has been someting countries have sought since WW2 - Germany wanted it, the U.S. in response pushed with the Manhattan Project, the Soviet Union pushed for it.
Because put it this way - there are two types of powers, nuclear powers, and non-nuclear powers. The advantage is easily hands down the nuclear power. You cannot fight a conventional war while nuclear weapons hang over the field. Everyone knew what nukes could do such as the end of WW2, its not hidden knowledge.
India and Pakistan pursued these weapons because one side was hinted at doing so, the otehr had no choice but to play catch up. All these countries know that pursuing nuclear weapons is the only way to equalize the playing field once a rival has 'em be it India or Pakistan, Israel or Iran, N.Korea or China or whoever.
Nuclear weapons are their own enigma - you would think that nuclear weapons in the hands of the Soviet Union and Stalin would have been insane for geopolitics. Instead, it made both sides seek peace and actually probably kept the world from blowing itself up. Its the great paradox of nuclear weapons - they brought peace through the threat of destruction.
And nuclear weapons are only insane based upon what those countries do with it - and unless the leader is absolutely 100% nuts, most people who want power realize there is no reason to rule over a parking lot.
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