SOUTH ASIA NUKES

By Raven Gale

On the surface Pakistan's recent stand on disarmament, more specifically, on fissile material control seems inexplicable. Pakistan ever since the regrettable proliferation episode linked to its clandestine program has been supportive of the global proliferation control regime. The stand now taken by Pakistan links any control over the production of fissile material to an accounting of existing stock piles. This does deal a bow to the overall disarmament process because Pakistan with India is a nuclear weapon armed state. India has not taken such a stance either because it is comfortable with its position or because it wants to piggy back on Pakistan's up-front declared position. Earlier both South Asian states had been in favor of a non-discriminatory disarmament process---presumably they still are but Pakistan by raising the issue has highlighted its perception of discrimination.

In 1974 when India carried out a nuclear explosion and Pakistan began its own nuclear program in response to that, Pakistan had proposed a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in South Asia---there were no takers. Later when both countries had established and accepted nuclear capability development programs an were moving towards delivery system development Pakistan proposed a strategic restraint regime. This proposal was repeated in 1998 after both countries had tested nuclear weapons and there was no need for any clandestine activity. Again it did not get international or regional support. Today South Asia is one of the few areas of the world where fissile material production, nuclear weapons development and delivery system development continues unabated. Any introduction of missile defenses would mean enhance missile development.

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