Southern Asia's nuclear myths

[A.V.]

Thirteen years ago to the day, on May 13, 1998 India conducted its second nuclear test -- the first series having been conducted on May 11 that year.

Finally, after 24 years of ambivalence, India opted to become a state with nuclear weapons -- an SNW. Global opprobrium followed in intense measure and New Delhi with Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the helm as the Prime Minister was ostracised. The U.S. led by President Bill Clinton gravely warned India that it had dug itself into a huge hole by going 'nuclear' -- for Pakistan would soon follow suit and that South Asia would become the most dangerous place in the world.

However, contrary to the popular and assiduously nurtured view, held then -- and now -- India was only catching up with Pakistan and redressing the nuclear asymmetry between the two that had grown in Rawalpindi's favour since May 1990.

Pakistan's army had acquired credible SNW status on May 26, 1990 and this development has been documented in rigorous detail by two respected U.S. authors, Thomas Reed of Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and Danny Stillman of Las Vegas Laboratory in their book "Nuclear Express" published in January 2009.

The authors corroborated the view held among some nuclear experts that China had tested a weapon design for Pakistan on May 26, 1990 and that this was part of a complex and deliberately tangled nuclear proliferation lattice among Cold War rivals that had its genesis in the U.S. nuclear enormity of August 1945.

more details here COLUMN - Southern Asia's nuclear myths revisited post bin Laden | Reuters

 

[nrj]

Pakistan warned India during '90-'91, not to attempt any adventure. Indian ambassador in Pak was briefed by GOP about the same. US validated Pak's Nuke claim in a private meeting with Indian leaders.

AQ Khan told some Indian friends in GOI, "You people be careful, they've got the Bomb!"

New Delhi was in intense pressure by that time.

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To go Nuclear or not, became paramount puzzle for India. Thanks to Morarji Desai, Indian nuclear research went slow. But by end of 91, physical nuclear test became essential.

We had couple of failed attempts in that time. By failed I mean; all preparations were done, every scientist was ready, logistical arrangements completed but in final hour they received Abort-10 order from Delhi. No wonder, US deterred Indians in doing so.

If am not wrong it was Narasimha Rao, who wrote Atal Bihari Vajpayee "I couldn't do it, you do it."

Finally by 1998, RAW & IA were able to completely fool US sats. Although I feel world would have been much different if India continued nuke test during '70s.