Wonder what would happen if that escalated suddenly? Became - nuclear? Think we'd be safe over here in America?

This answers that pretty well..

https://climate.envsci.rutgers.edu/pdf/IndiaPakistanBullAtomSci.pdf

Not to induce panic, but the short answer is 'No.' Still gonna get nuclear winter, basically, and civilization would end.

Nice to know that's potentially in the hands of warring religious nuts, isn't it?