The Causes and Consequences of South Asia's Nuclear Tests

Instead of a nuclear flash-point in Cuba or the Korean Peninsula, couldthe world now be facing one in a Kashmiri mountain village? The nuclear tests byIndia and Pakistan in May 1998 shook the region, challenged the near-globalconsensus on non-proliferation and increased the risk that other states wouldfollow suit. The international community has been largely powerless in itsresponse. In the wake of the tests the regions underlying problems have becomeyet more intractable, the need to resolve them more urgent than ever.This paper argues that attempts to deal with the consequences of the tests areinseparable from the history of nuclear developments in both India and Pakistan.Sanctions have not succeeded in changing policy and more pragmatic responses arenecessary. For example, political stability should be encouraged within thecountries concerned, in their relations with each other, and in the widerregion. Arms control and measures to increase confidence and security also needto be re-examined and adapted to the changed circumstances. The nuclear-weaponstates themselves need to look again at their attitudes towards arms-controlinstruments such as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Strategic ArmsReduction Treaty. India and Pakistan need to reappraise or clarify their nucleardoctrines and take steps to improve relations. The nuclear dangers on thesubcontinent have been apparent for many years. What is needed now is a newapproach to deal with them.An important and timely study of the impact of the nuclear tests by India and Pakistan in 1998, both on relations within the region and on global non-proliferation regimes."The nuclear tests by India and Pakistan in May 1998 shook the region and challenged the near-global consensus on non-proliferation. In their wake, the region's underlying problems have become still more intractable, and the need to resolve them has become more urgent than ever. The international community has been powerless in its response, and a new approach is now called for. Political stability should be encouraged within the countries concerned, in their relations with each other and in the wider region. Arms control and measures to increase confidence and security need to be re-examined and adapted to the changed circumstances. The nuclear-weapon states themselves should look again at their attitudes towards arms-control instruments, while India and Pakistan need to reappraise or clarify their nuclear doctrines, and take steps to improve relations."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights ReservedWhy did Indian and Pakistan carry out nuclear tests in 1998 and what are the consequences of their actions? This paper examines the complex domestic and international factors that persuaded each country to drop its long-standing "nuclear ambiguity" and unravels the reprecussions of the tests both for regional stability and for global non-proliferation regimes.