Kuala Lampur, May 8 -- When nuclear rivals India and Pakistan spiral into conflict, the resulting tremors are felt far beyond South Asia.

The danger lies not only in the possibility of an immediate war - but in the strategic precedent it sets for the wider region, especially North-east Asia and South-east Asia. And nowhere is this impact more damaging than on Asean's cohesion, stability, and credibility.

Recent escalations, including alleged missile strikes and tit-for-tat accusations, signal a worrying trend: that nuclear posturing is no longer a deterrent, but a political instrument. North Korea is watching. Pyongyang has long calibrated its provocations based on perceived impunity. If India and Pakistan can openly exchange hostilitie...