Impact of US missile defence felt in Asia

China, India and Pakistan ‘‘make for a triangle of three unequal sides — an inherently unstable geometric form,’’ they said. ‘‘No wonder that a wide range of outcomes is possible from the introduction of missile defences.’’

Krepon said much depends on the design and scope of the US missile defence system, which still has not been determined. The editors said the report was the first serious analytical effort by a group of Indian, Pakistani and US experts to weigh the possible consequences of Bush’s stated plans to deploy theater and national missile defence systems.