Skip to main content

Table 3 TOWS part 1—understanding the external threats and opportunities and the internal weakness and strengths on the Pakistan nuclear problem

From: Using systems thinking to design actionable futures: a nuclear weapons example

External threats

 T1 Islamic Faction controls some nuclear weapons

 T2 Militants gain strength from unstable nation

 T3 Militants are supported by Islamic Faction

 T4 Nation is becoming unstable

 T5 Pakistan unlikely to welcome external military forces

 T6 International will is lacking

External opportunities

 O1 International fear of insecure nuclear weapons

 O2 Pakistan used to military rule

 O3 US military and resources

 O4 India Military and bases

 O5 Islamic and Militant forces vulnerable to attack

 O6 Loyalists are well organised and ingrained in environment

Internal weaknesses

 W1 Limited available military forces

 W2 Takes time to mobilise military forces

 W3 Low pool of resources

Internal strengths

 S1 Highly specialised forces

 S2 Relatively well respected internationally

 S3 Well organised humanitarian relief strategies