NUCLEARIZATION IN SOUTH ASIA & NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT)

Abstract

The nuclearization of south Asia is a complex mixture of pursuance of advanced nuclear weapons of the two states India and Pakistan. In 1998, the international community witnessed highly shocking waves of nuclear exploitations, when both states officially declared themselves nuclear states. A prolonged history of clashes, escalations, mistrust and security dilemma paved the way of nuclearization of South Asia. Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program and tests in May, 1998 were carried out in response of Indian nuclear weapons program and nuclear tests. Pakistan’s prime motive behind the nuclear explosions she carried out was to deter India and restore strategic balance. Islamabad’s timely response sent a strong message to New Delhi showing that it was capable of defending its territorial integrity and was fully prepared to respond to any aggression from India. In contrast to Pakistan, the Indian nuclear program can be traced back to 1948 by the passing of the atomic act. Initially, it was meant for the development of energy, however since the time of the Indian Prime Minister Nehru, the door towards weapons would open if required. However, the conflict between China and India in 1962 played a major role in the pursuance for atomic program. India carried out its first peaceful nuclear explosion in May, 1974. After about two decades, in May, 1998, New Delhi carried out five more explosions, declaring itself as official nuclear weapon state.  As a result of these explosions during May, 1998, both states suffered multiple sanctions, yet Pakistan suffered more than its counterpart. Overtime, the international community put forward many treaties and agreements to control escalations of weapons of mass destruction. Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is one major outcome of the nonproliferation regime. The key purpose of NPT is to control nuclear proliferation to non-nuclear arms states. Ironically, in the presence of such comprehensive text on nonproliferation, both states not only acquired “nukes”, but were also able to increase their stock piles day by day, which clearly depict the complete failure of NPT. Both Pakistan and India are non-signatories to NPT, as both consider that the NPT is discriminatory in nature. Moreover, the international community itself shared the burden of nuclearization of South Asia by playing a biased and partial role in case of Pakistan and India. Nuclearization of South Asia does not seem that will end in the near future, unless Pakistan and India solve all outstanding conflicts, including the Kashmir issue; further to this the  international community needs to  abandon its role during the nuclearization of the region of helping and favoring one state over the other with the objective of creating security imbalance in  the region