Indo-US nuclear deal opens up many issues regarding nuclear proliferation. One of the major questions that we need to
debate upon is that whether ‘Non-Proliferation’ has become a market tag to do business in the civil nuclear energy programme? Because there is a thin margin between nuclear weapon programme and civil nuclear energy programme. A country could easily switch over to weapon programme as it is matter of time because fuels and technologies that are used in both programme are almost similar. As far as India is concerned, there is an impeccable historical record of non-proliferation to India’s nuclear programme. As an award to such credentials, India has been exempted from safeguard measures and inspection of IAEA to those nuclear plants that are controlled by military and NSG waiver. But Pakistan’s nuclear programme opens up issues associated black market and use of such
technology by rogue elements. Nuclear proliferation through the A Q Khan’s network to Iran and North Korea is an example. Besides, instability and volatility of the political system in Pakistan may become a source of worry for the non-proliferators as the terrorist outfit may capture the power in Pakistan to get the control of nuclear technology. Ironically, such a black market at the cost of possible open market envisaged by technologically advanced countries would be a serious competitor and violator of disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control principles. Billion dollar business derives from nuclear technology would be a complex issue to the future policies cutting across political, strategical, economical milieu. Russia, France, US and China would be the major players of this billion dollar business.
Indo-US nuclear deal opens up many issues regarding nuclear proliferation. One of the major questions that we need to debate upon is that whether ‘Non-Proliferation’ has become a market tag to do business in the civil nuclear energy programme? Because there is a thin margin between nuclear weapon programme and civil nuclear energy programme. A country could easily switch over to weapon programme as it is matter of time because fuels and technologies that are used in both programme are almost similar. As far as India is concerned, there is an impeccable historical record of non-proliferation to India’s nuclear programme. As an award to such credentials, India has been exempted from safeguard measures and inspection of IAEA to those nuclear plants that are controlled by military and NSG waiver. But Pakistan’s nuclear programme opens up issues associated black market and use of such technology by rogue elements. Nuclear proliferation through the A Q Khan’s network to Iran and North Korea is an example. Besides, instability and volatility of the political system in Pakistan may become a source of worry for the non-proliferators as the terrorist outfit may capture the power in Pakistan to get the control of nuclear technology. Ironically, such a black market at the cost of possible open market envisaged by technologically advanced countries would be a serious competitor and violator of disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control principles. Billion dollar business derives from nuclear technology would be a complex issue to the future policies cutting across political, strategical, economical milieu. Russia, France, US and China would be the major players of this billion dollar business.