A Welcome Message from The Editor

It is with profound pleasure that we write this editorial to welcome you to the new journal, “Pakistan Biomedical Journal” (PBMJ), an interdisciplinary international journal. PBMJ has successfully completed its first volume and now its the second volume. We greatly appreciate the response of scientists who have contributed previously and are still contributing to this new journal. The subject of the journal is interesting and we try to address the health related concerns of public and improve the understandingof scientific phenomenons by researchers. Research discoveries are happening at a fast pace, in all the fields and PBMJ provides an ideal forum for exchange of scientific knowledge in terms of full length papers, surveys, reviews, case studies, letters to editor and systematic analysis. PBMJ is committed to publishing all manuscripts receiving a high recommendation from reviewers. The intention of PBMJ is to create space for generation of new knowledge, debate, collaborations among national and international scientists. Our vision is to promote research that will be helpful for knowledge sharing, new discoveries, development of critical thinking among the upcoming scholars, guidance for policy makers, awareness among the concerned community and ultimately benefitting the general population in improving health and fitness at large. It is a matter of pride for us to haveexcellent editorial board members from renowned institutes. We aim to have the best standards of quality of the published manuscripts. With every issue, we are continuously trying to improve the standards. We look forward for more exciting researches and scientific studies from all over the world. We would like to extend a very warm welcome to the readers of PBMJ and hope you will join us as authors, reviewers and editors in future.

Emerging Nexus Between Space Weaponization and Missile Shield: Impact on South Asian Strategic Stability

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan outstanding territorial disputes have been haunting stability and peace in South Asia. Having fought three conventional wars and indulged in routine border skirmishes, the two sides after their overt nuclearization in 1998 have shown restraint and did not let border skirmishes, Kargil border conflict and acts of terrorism by the non-state actors to transform into major conflict or an allout war. India being the region’s core state with revisionist posture has an aim of becoming great power, for which it has been maximizing its military power. New Delhi’s hegemonic designs and increasing military capabilities pose existential threat to Pakistan. Therefore, Islamabad has been struggling to maintain the full spectrum deterrence capability. Indeed, the prevalent status-quo due to strategic equilibrium in the region doesn’t gel with Indian ambition of winning great power status and is thus, on a course to exploit its outer space expertise as a tool to shift the Balance of Power (BoP) in her own favor. The Indians capability of launching satellites through its state of the art Space Launch Vehicles (SLVs) and development of Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) are being manipulated not only for checkmating Pakistan’s missile based deterrence credibility, but also for achieving space control - hegemony or supremacy in space. Pakistan announced its Space Vision 2047 encompassing its developmental and national security needs in December 2017. Foregoing in view, Pakistan could be compelled to address a totally new kind of threat in the form of Indian probable space weaponization and thus might build its own counter space-control capabilities (space weapons) as a victim of yet another action- reaction syndrome. Ironically, there is no bi-lateral legal treaty that exists between the two, to address the arms race dilemma. India doesn’t want to be entangled at bi-lateral level and remains dismissive towards Pakistan’s peace building offers. The evolving threat has to be addressed at political and diplomatic levels so that to maintain peace and stability in South Asia.