Abstract :
The launch of Sputnik demarked the beginning of the space age and also the beginning of the
militarization of the outer space. During the Cold War, the two strategic competitors exploited
the outer space for their military purposes, which initiated an intense space race, lasted till the
end of it. Due to intense competition in space, different satellites for photographic
reconnaissance, surveillance, communication and intelligence were launched into the outer space
and space became the area of conflict between the arch enemies. The major development in the
militarization of space came under the President Reagan‘s period, when Strategic Defence
Initiative was announced in 1983. This was the first step towards weaponizing the common
heritage of the human being. The power trends in the militarization of outer space have also
shown its implication on security of South Asia. China, under the consideration of security
dilemma, has contributed its part in the militarization of space. As a result, India in collaboration
with U.S is also crawling towards developing its space power, which has serious implications on
the security of Pakistan. Therefore, the strategic competition among nations has resulted into
their massive investment in the developing their space assets for military purposes and brought a
paradigm shift in it. This research paper analyzes that space has become a fourth medium of
warfare. The new plans from the major powers to utilize the outer space to dominate and to create
their hegemony in the outer space will deteriorate the fragile peace in South Asia, as well as
endanger the peace of the world. The design of present research is exploratory and for more
empirical analysis, study also based on philosophical assumptions.
Keyword :
Space Militarization and Weaponization, Satellites, Security Competition, Surveillance and Intelligence, South Asia