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The Arms Race of South Asia In an unprecedented move the U.S. has, since 2005, been the fuel behind a push to advance the nuclear capacities of India. If carried out this deal has the potential to increase New Delhi's nuclear weapons production from 7 per year to 40 or 50. The greater implications are far more treacherous– it threatens to enflame and accelerate an arms race between India and Pakistan.
India produced its first nuclear weapon in 1974
through the misuse of its civilian nuclear energy program. If the
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) were to wave the rules for India it
would be the first time in the history of the split atom. India
has never signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of India's nuclear program on display. A unanimous vote of the 45 nations is required
override the current rules. However, the deal could be brokered
if, according to the NSG, India would sign onto the NPT and agreed
to not test nuclear weapons. India has thus far refused to concede
these points claiming they have sovereignty rights with regard to
the use and distribution of nuclear material. The U.S. has take
a position in line with the Indian perspective overturning 3 decades
of U.S. policy with its willingness to supply nuclear material and
technology without inspecting both nuclear energy and weapons plants. Pakistani Protestors speak out against U.S. influence in the region. Pakistan sent a letter to the International Energy Agency (IEA) which stated the deal with India was an affront to the rules for nuclear trade and it, "threatens to increase the chances of a nuclear arms race in the subcontinent." The recent ouster of former President Pervez Musharraf further enflames the potential for instability in the region. Musharraf's tight relations to the U.S. provided some, albeit very little, assurance that Pakistan would refrain from engaging in an arms race with India; even though under Musharraf, Pakistan sold nuclear secrets to U.S. non-allies Libya, Iran and North Korea. The
nuclear abolition movement Peace Action, with our brothers and sisters in India, have opposed this deal from the beginning. You can sign a petition opposing it, here. That petition is used in daily correspondence with U.S. lawmakers in during formal lobby visits by Peace Action representatives. There are many opportunities for us to stop this deal before it starts. First, the 45 NSG countries must still unanimously vote to exempt India from the rules. Second, the deal must be ratified by the U.S. Congress. We must act now to ensure Congress is on the side of non-proliferation. Your support and signature counts. |
President
Bush with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
the
Comprehensive test ban treaty – at base the Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) requires all member countries to sign the NPT. 
