Zaheerul Hassan
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International community was greatly pleased on September 24 this year when by following US President Barack Obamas initiation, the UN Security Council passed a resolution, calling upon all countries outside the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) to join it as non-nuclear weapons states. But this euphoria ended within two days when Obama assured Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that the UNSC resolution is not directed against India and that his country would fulfill all obligations on the nuclear deal. Before this assurance, Indian high officials severely reacted saying that it does not change its stand
there is no question of India joining the NPT. Nuclear weapons are an integral part of Indias national security.
Meanwhile, one day after the UN resolution, US President Obama and the leaders of France and Britain warned Iran of dire consequences if it did not open its secret Iranian nuclear facility for the inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAE). Obama even threatened that failure by Tehran to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons would lead to confrontation.
On the other side, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made it clear on September 25 that the new nuclear facility would not be operational for 18 months so Iran had not violated any requirements of the IAEA. However, Iranian leadership has repeatedly stated that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Nevertheless, on the one hand, President Obama by moving away from the policies of Bush era which abandoned arms control has re-started it, while on the other; India is exempted from his nuclear approach. Moreover, Obama-led some western rulers have been pressurising North Korea and particularly Iran to give up their nuclear programme, but such a policy is not applicable to Israel and especially India which are determined to further improve the capabilities of their atomic weapons. Particularly, this duality of Obama is likely to encourage Indian nuclear ambitions which are unlimited and which will bring about dangerous consequences in South Asia and whole the world.
It is notable that earlier US President Barrack Obama had recognised an inter-relationship among war against terrorism in Afghanistan, issue of Kashmir and arms race in South Asia. In this context, on September 25, 2008, Obama, while accusing President Bushs policies towards the two neighbours for letting grave nuclear risks to grow in the region since 1998 nuclear tests, offered it as part of his prospective policy by remarking that if elected, he would encourage India and Pakistan to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and resolve the Kashmir problem to reduce nuclear dangers in South Asia. Now, by excluding New Delhi from his global disarmament goals, President Obama has deviated from his previous stand, thus emboldening Indian nuclear ambitions.
US self-contradictory approach could be judged from the fact that in July this year, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited India and finalized the defence agreement essential to allowing US companies to sell sophisticated arms to India as part of the pact of civil nuclear technology concluded during the Bush era.
It looks surprising that on the one side, US-led some western countries have been making strenuous efforts for world peace by lessening the dangers of nuclear proliferation, but on the other, they ignored New Delhi when it launched its first nuclear-powered submarine on July 27 2009. In this regard, setting aside regional problems, and resolution of Indo-Pak issues-especially thorny dispute of Kashmir, Indian PM Singh called the inauguration of nuclear submarinea historic milestone in the countrys defence preparedness.
Singh further revealed, We dont have any aggressive designs nor do we seek to threaten anyone. It becomes a big joke of the 21st century, reminding a maxim, armed to the teeth, but no enemy, if we take cognisance of Indias arms advances, and 34 percent increase in its defence budget.
Indian aggressive designs could be assessed from the statement of its Defence Minister, Antony who stated in the Lok Sabha on July 20 that it was unfortunate that 70 per cent of defence equipment was still being imported, and now the government was working towards manufacturing state-of-the-art equipment indigenously.
As a matter of fact, New Delhi with the support of US and Israel has presumed peace-loving Pakistan and China as their arch enemies. In this respect, in May 1998, when India detonated five nuclear tests, the then Defense Minister George Fernandes had declared publicly that China is Indias potential threat No. 1. New Delhi which successfully tested missile, Agni-111in May 2007, has been extending its range to target all Chinese cities.
Besides, it was India which first conducted four atomic tests and forced Pakistan to follow the suit. In this connection, Islamabad which had announced to depend upon minimum nuclear deterrence has repeatedly offered New Delhi to jointly sign the NPT and CTBT. But India rejected these proposals as its nuclear ambitions are endless, and are being encouraged by America including other European countries.
It is of particular attention that recently Indian top scientist Santhanam Rajagopala who was a director for the 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran has claimed that the explosions were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, under the pretext of this false statement, India wants to conduct more experiments. In this context, on August 28, Indian former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, Iyengar told the BBC, If India wants to declare itself as a nuclear power you have all the means of designing a thermo-nuclear device which can go into a missile, which can be dropped from an aircraft or can be launched from a submarine, you need many more tests. Quite contrary to the anti-China remarks of Fernandes, he also indicated that Indias 1998 nuclear test was not a deterrent against China, but it was against Pakistan. Interestingly, owing to its own duality regarding nuclear non-proliferation regime, Washington neglects Indian paradoxes in the matter as New Delhi is determined to fulfill it nuclear ambitions.
It is mentionable that after 9/11, both India and Israel which had openly jumped on Bushs anti-terrorism enterprise are implementing a secret strategy against Pakistan and China. In this context, Indo-Israeli secret diplomacy could be noted from the interview of Israels ambassador to India, Mark Sofer published in the Indian weekly Outlook on February 18, 2008. Regarding Indias defence arrangements with Tel Aviv, Sofer had surprisingly disclosed We do have a defence relationship with India with all due respect; the secret part will remain a secret.
In this connection, Indias The Tribune reported on September 10, 2003, Tel Aviv has agreed to share its expertise with India in various fields such as anti-fidayeen operations, surveillance satellites, intelligence sharing and space exploration. Before it, Jerusalem Post had indicated about Israeli sale of the Arrow-II anti-ballistic missile defense system to India, disclosing that the U.S. was a collaborator in the project. The Post also explained, Israel could be acquiring an element of strategic depth by setting up logistical bases in the Indian Ocean for its navy
On September 2, 2004, Indian Express reported, Israeli cooperation with the Indian Navy is seen as vital Indian Navy plans to acquire ten more Israeli Barak anti-missile defense systems in addition to the seven already procured for its major warships. India has also approved the purchase of a $97 million Israeli electronic warfare system for ships including fiber optic gyros and micro-electromechanical systems.
Besides recent purchases of arms, a few weeks ago, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), G Madhavan Nair, verified that Indias Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT), launched on April 20 has started sending images. The launch displayed the secret Indo-Israeli jointly developed Advanced Mission Computers and Advanced Telemetry System. India has also been purchasing nuclear materials and its components from Germany, France and Russia.
It is due to the double standard of Obama that India has initiated deadly nuclear arms in South Asia where majority of people are living below the poverty level, lacking basic facilities like fresh food and clean water. While yielding to acute poverty, every day, some persons commit suicide in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka etc.
No doubt, besides other western countries, responsibility goes to Obamas dual approach on nuclear disarmament, which has encouraged Indian nuclear ambitions. Regrettably, such ambivalence will further entangle South Asia in a deadly arms race, thus endangering its neighbouring countries, Gulf States, and world peace.
Meanwhile, one day after the UN resolution, US President Obama and the leaders of France and Britain warned Iran of dire consequences if it did not open its secret Iranian nuclear facility for the inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAE). Obama even threatened that failure by Tehran to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons would lead to confrontation.
On the other side, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made it clear on September 25 that the new nuclear facility would not be operational for 18 months so Iran had not violated any requirements of the IAEA. However, Iranian leadership has repeatedly stated that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Nevertheless, on the one hand, President Obama by moving away from the policies of Bush era which abandoned arms control has re-started it, while on the other; India is exempted from his nuclear approach. Moreover, Obama-led some western rulers have been pressurising North Korea and particularly Iran to give up their nuclear programme, but such a policy is not applicable to Israel and especially India which are determined to further improve the capabilities of their atomic weapons. Particularly, this duality of Obama is likely to encourage Indian nuclear ambitions which are unlimited and which will bring about dangerous consequences in South Asia and whole the world.
It is notable that earlier US President Barrack Obama had recognised an inter-relationship among war against terrorism in Afghanistan, issue of Kashmir and arms race in South Asia. In this context, on September 25, 2008, Obama, while accusing President Bushs policies towards the two neighbours for letting grave nuclear risks to grow in the region since 1998 nuclear tests, offered it as part of his prospective policy by remarking that if elected, he would encourage India and Pakistan to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and resolve the Kashmir problem to reduce nuclear dangers in South Asia. Now, by excluding New Delhi from his global disarmament goals, President Obama has deviated from his previous stand, thus emboldening Indian nuclear ambitions.
US self-contradictory approach could be judged from the fact that in July this year, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited India and finalized the defence agreement essential to allowing US companies to sell sophisticated arms to India as part of the pact of civil nuclear technology concluded during the Bush era.
It looks surprising that on the one side, US-led some western countries have been making strenuous efforts for world peace by lessening the dangers of nuclear proliferation, but on the other, they ignored New Delhi when it launched its first nuclear-powered submarine on July 27 2009. In this regard, setting aside regional problems, and resolution of Indo-Pak issues-especially thorny dispute of Kashmir, Indian PM Singh called the inauguration of nuclear submarinea historic milestone in the countrys defence preparedness.
Singh further revealed, We dont have any aggressive designs nor do we seek to threaten anyone. It becomes a big joke of the 21st century, reminding a maxim, armed to the teeth, but no enemy, if we take cognisance of Indias arms advances, and 34 percent increase in its defence budget.
Indian aggressive designs could be assessed from the statement of its Defence Minister, Antony who stated in the Lok Sabha on July 20 that it was unfortunate that 70 per cent of defence equipment was still being imported, and now the government was working towards manufacturing state-of-the-art equipment indigenously.
As a matter of fact, New Delhi with the support of US and Israel has presumed peace-loving Pakistan and China as their arch enemies. In this respect, in May 1998, when India detonated five nuclear tests, the then Defense Minister George Fernandes had declared publicly that China is Indias potential threat No. 1. New Delhi which successfully tested missile, Agni-111in May 2007, has been extending its range to target all Chinese cities.
Besides, it was India which first conducted four atomic tests and forced Pakistan to follow the suit. In this connection, Islamabad which had announced to depend upon minimum nuclear deterrence has repeatedly offered New Delhi to jointly sign the NPT and CTBT. But India rejected these proposals as its nuclear ambitions are endless, and are being encouraged by America including other European countries.
It is of particular attention that recently Indian top scientist Santhanam Rajagopala who was a director for the 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran has claimed that the explosions were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, under the pretext of this false statement, India wants to conduct more experiments. In this context, on August 28, Indian former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, Iyengar told the BBC, If India wants to declare itself as a nuclear power you have all the means of designing a thermo-nuclear device which can go into a missile, which can be dropped from an aircraft or can be launched from a submarine, you need many more tests. Quite contrary to the anti-China remarks of Fernandes, he also indicated that Indias 1998 nuclear test was not a deterrent against China, but it was against Pakistan. Interestingly, owing to its own duality regarding nuclear non-proliferation regime, Washington neglects Indian paradoxes in the matter as New Delhi is determined to fulfill it nuclear ambitions.
It is mentionable that after 9/11, both India and Israel which had openly jumped on Bushs anti-terrorism enterprise are implementing a secret strategy against Pakistan and China. In this context, Indo-Israeli secret diplomacy could be noted from the interview of Israels ambassador to India, Mark Sofer published in the Indian weekly Outlook on February 18, 2008. Regarding Indias defence arrangements with Tel Aviv, Sofer had surprisingly disclosed We do have a defence relationship with India with all due respect; the secret part will remain a secret.
In this connection, Indias The Tribune reported on September 10, 2003, Tel Aviv has agreed to share its expertise with India in various fields such as anti-fidayeen operations, surveillance satellites, intelligence sharing and space exploration. Before it, Jerusalem Post had indicated about Israeli sale of the Arrow-II anti-ballistic missile defense system to India, disclosing that the U.S. was a collaborator in the project. The Post also explained, Israel could be acquiring an element of strategic depth by setting up logistical bases in the Indian Ocean for its navy
On September 2, 2004, Indian Express reported, Israeli cooperation with the Indian Navy is seen as vital Indian Navy plans to acquire ten more Israeli Barak anti-missile defense systems in addition to the seven already procured for its major warships. India has also approved the purchase of a $97 million Israeli electronic warfare system for ships including fiber optic gyros and micro-electromechanical systems.
Besides recent purchases of arms, a few weeks ago, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), G Madhavan Nair, verified that Indias Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT), launched on April 20 has started sending images. The launch displayed the secret Indo-Israeli jointly developed Advanced Mission Computers and Advanced Telemetry System. India has also been purchasing nuclear materials and its components from Germany, France and Russia.
It is due to the double standard of Obama that India has initiated deadly nuclear arms in South Asia where majority of people are living below the poverty level, lacking basic facilities like fresh food and clean water. While yielding to acute poverty, every day, some persons commit suicide in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka etc.
No doubt, besides other western countries, responsibility goes to Obamas dual approach on nuclear disarmament, which has encouraged Indian nuclear ambitions. Regrettably, such ambivalence will further entangle South Asia in a deadly arms race, thus endangering its neighbouring countries, Gulf States, and world peace.
