India was 'Forced' to Conduct Nuclear Tests

(Originally appeared in the 1990s in the Times of India, as published in M. D. Nalapat's book "Indutva", Har-Anand Publications, 1999)

The reasons behind the resuming of nuclear testing are the

continuing negative reaction of the United States of lndia's

nuclear restraint since the 1974 test; the increasing threat from a

nuclear-armed China intent on providing Pakistan with offensive

capability against India; as well as the need to ensure that the

Indian deterrent is safe and reliable. After waiting for nearly 25

years for a positive response to India's soft policy, the country

has been forced into a series of tests to ensure its defence against

future nuclear blackmail.

Despite avoiding further testing since the 1974 "peaceful

nuclear exploration", India was met with sanctions on a range of

nuclear technologies "that were 85% civilian", in the words of

top policy-maker. He added that "even essential safety equipment,

as well as technology and material needed for peaceful

applications such as weather forecasting, were denied to us by

Washington". However, these sanctions had the effect of spurring

Indian scientists into developing supercomputers and other

equipment "that even China cannot match", he added.

Another reason for the resuming of testing by the world’s

sixth declared nuclear power was the stepping-up of China’s

assistance to Pakistan through its North Korean ally. The near-

total absence of United States reaction to such technology transfers

convinced Indian policy-makers that "we cannot expect any

credible US action to prevent cross-border proliferation by two

countries described by Washington as “strategic allies". In

contrast, the United States has taken an offensive position on

India, especially through favoured media outlets such as The

New York Times, "despite New Delhi’s total prevention of the

proliferation of strategic technology to other countries", said a

cabinet source, who added that "it is clear that by the time the

Clinton administration wakes up to the danger posed by the

China-Pakistan-North Korean axis, it will be too late for India,

unless we perfect our own deterrent".

Analysts believe that the policy of nuclear restraint followed

by India has encouraged both China and Pakistan to step up

their covert war against India. Islamabad has backed organisations

active in the terror campaign in Kashmir. China has given help

to insurgents in the North-east, and has provided logistical

support to terrorist groups operating within Bangladesh,

Myanmar and Thailand. "Enough is enough. It takes two hands

to clap, but only one to molest. Thus far, India’s restraint has

been met 'only by increased anti-India activities", said a high-

level policy-maker.

"Given that universal nuclear disarmament is utopian, and

that China is merrily proliferating, there was no option but to

take steps to perfect our deterrent", said a military source. He

added that "India being a full democracy, is much more

responsible than China or even Russia, where government

authority has ceased to exist in most sectors. Pakistan, using

money from its friends, is shopping for scientists and materials

to become a nuclear power. Under the circumstances, India was

left with no option but to resume testing", said a top policy-

maker, who added that "our scientists informed us that a

minimum number of tests was needed to ensure safety, especially

as the United States has banned all safety technologies to us since

1974".