Tarachandani, Paarth2026-09-042026-09-042026-08-212026-08-212026-09-04http://hdl.handle.net/1993/40064With the advent of autonomous weapon systems, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) has been presented with a significant challenge. Autonomous technologies used in decision-making processes during times of conflict expose loopholes in the current principles of IHL that regulate the use of force, such as the principles of distinction and proportionality. Contemporary conflicts, particularly the Russia–Ukraine War and the 2025 India–Pakistan escalation, readily demonstrate how autonomous and semi-autonomous systems are increasingly involved in surveillance, targeting, and even striking decisions. This thesis examines whether existing international legal frameworks adequately regulate autonomous warfare and addresses the legal gaps created by AI-enabled decision-making. This thesis adopts a mixed-methods approach grounded in doctrinal legal analysis, supplemented by policy analysis, assessment of legal institutions and regulatory systems, and interdisciplinary theoretical perspectives. This approach corresponds most closely with Martha Minow’s categories of doctrinal restatement, policy analysis, and the study and assessment of legal institutions, systems, and institutional actors. The research integrates Katharina Pistor’s theory of legal coding and modest insights from Science and Technology Studies (STS), which provide additional critical perspectives on regulatory complexity and how law structures power and responsibility. The thesis concludes with recommendations for reform to preserve meaningful human oversight and ensure that humanitarian protections remain effective in an era of algorithmic warfare.engInternational Humanitarian LawAutonomous WeaponsInternational LawLaw and TechnologyArtificial Intelligence and Law