The question of nuclear weapons has been decided upon about 5 years back. It was a deliberate and calibrated sequence of steps that has resulted in, what essentially is today, calling out the Pakistani nuclear bluff.
Indian Army, for past three decades, has been impressing upon the Government of India that the nuclear threat of Pakistan is not exactly a disabler for hard military options against Pakistan. However, in its wisdom (or lack thereof) no government in power was willing to look at the options presented by Indian Military forces, in dealing with Pakistani military threat in conventional/non-conventional backdrop.
Things have since changed.
