The nuclear age coincided with the advent of the Cold War. The concept of deterrence evolved in the background of ideological divide. However, both sides kept nuclear deterrence insulated from ideological considerations. This pragmatism was born out of imperative of survival. The two sides also signed the Helsinki Accord in 1975 committing them not to change the territorial status quo in Europe through use of force. Both these conditions, which contributed to stability of deterrence during the worst days of the Cold War, are absent in Pakistan’s nuclear policy.