HVK Archives: Nuclear Hype
Nuclear Hype - The Times Of India
The Editorial
()
April 1, 1998
Title: Nuclear Hype
Author: The Editorial
Publication: The Times Of India
Date: April 1, 1998
That Pakistan would want to draw mileage from the mention in the
BJP's ational Agenda of Governance about "exercising the
option to induct nuclear weapons" was expected. What is difficult
to understand is the politicisation of the issue by the Indian
Opposition, especially after both the Prime Minister and the
defence minister have clarified that the option would be
considered only if necessary. Whether the BJP could have
expressed itself in more sophisticated terms is a different
matter. Even if the BJP had opted to abjure nuclear weapons,
Islam abad would have denounced it as a cunning plot to disarm
Pakistan, take away its nuclear deterrent and assert Indian
supremacy in conventional armaments. The misplaced concern
expressed within India for our neighbours' anxiety on the nuclear
issue overlooks the fact that these countries had, by voting to
extend the NPT indefinitely and unconditionally, legitimised the
possession of nuclear weapons in the hands of the five nuclear
powers. including China. If nuclear weapons in the hands of China
and Pakistan did not lead to any deterioration in their relations
with our neighbours, it is not likely that any induction of
nuclear weapons by India, if at all it ever happens, will
heighten tensions with the smaller states of the region.
US officials reading about our parliamentary debate would need to
exercise extraordinary restraint if they are not to apply
pressure on India. Successive directors of the CIA have deposed
before the US Congress that India and Pakistan have the
capability to assemble (read induct) nuclear weapons at short
notice. After they demitted their offices, Pakistani prime
ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have talked of Pakistan
having nuclear weapons. US officials have testified about the
assistance of China to Pakistan with regard to nuclear weapon
technology; the issue is currently under discussion between the
US and China. The US invoked the Pressler amendment against
Pakistan on the ground that it had a nuclear explosive device
capability as far back as 1990. Pakistan talks of a nuclear
deterrent balance between the two countries. There are reports of
the US offering sophisticated missile technology to China in an
attempt to bribe Beijing into stopping similar assistance to
Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan is reported to be acquiring North
Korean missiles with ranges exceeding that of Agni. In other
words, our politicians are merely displaying their ignorance of a
number of momentous developments relating to our security.
Evidently, what is more important to them is to score points than
to display adequate understanding about our security predicament.
Some of them have expressed deep concern about an arms race
initiated by Pakistan without realising that Islamabad is already
acquiring missile and nuclear capabilities as quickly as it can
and cannot step up the pace without courting economic disaster.
Ironically, the chorus against nuclearisation is being led by
those who have held office in the past and have themselves
contributed to building up India's capabilities.
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