HI • ' 250

Emporium Current Essays

Emporium Current Essays

251

i*^*^^^™^^^^^^^^^ responsible for technology transfers to India in the fields'-of satellite

launching vehicles and guidance system.

India's integrated guided missile development programme includes short (Prithvi) and
medium-range (Agm-IRBM) projects. Jndia successfully tested an advanced version of
Prithvi on January
28, 1996. Prithvi 2 has a range of 25(5 KM. Agni, which is an intermediate range missile,
was first tested in 1992 «hen it recorded a range of 9^0 mifes. A more advanced version
of Agni is expected to-juree a range of.l,S30 miles. Launched from Cochin in SouthWest
India, the Agni could reach the US Naval Base at Deigo Garcia^ Hi->fee -Southern
Indian Ocean. Launched from Kutch it could rcadfTBasra, Riyadh and Tehran. From
Delhi, Kazakhstan, from Appaphat ;P/ardeslv Beijing and from Madras, Bangkok and
Sumatra.

...,.,, In-addi^iofl' to the above India, as a purt of its Integrated

Guided Missile^ro^gramme, is conducting research programmes for

'•'ddarSteflimV ~ ftitttf-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Successful

d0ftl^fw?nt''bf"the polar satellite launch vehicle for its space

:-{>fOj£iwnlli^ would :giye India a rocket capability powerful enough

, fac a^i .I£B.,M, making targets in the-Unked States reachable. It is

understood that Russia is providing technology information to India

in this respect and that US has cautioned Russia to refrain. All these

missiles are nuclear payload carrying vehicles and are part of nuclear weapon system.

The increase in India's military reach should make the rest of the world take a serious
note of the inherent dangers. In any case the Islamic world should consider its. serious
implications and work out a common response to the challenge. The introduction of
sophisticated missiles particularly their deployment against Pakistan, will increase
tension between Pakistan and India. Pakistan would, therefore, be justified in making an
appropriate response to safeguard its security interests.
An mentioned earlier, missile programme of India is part of its nuclear weapon system.
Now we receive information through the US sources that India intends to carry out
second nuclear test at Pokhran and as reported, preparations include installation of
drilling rig, construction of observation and diagnostic, posts, movement of heavy
equipment and evacuation of civil population from the area. In addition, the statement of
Mr. Narasimha Rao, former Prime Minister of India, that India will not give up its nuclear
option, leave little room for doubt.

Possible reasons for India's aggressive nuclear policy could be its ambition to gain a
world power status, secure a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and to
circumvent the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996 after which nuclear test
will be banned. Also the reason of the new nuclear test could be the refinement of India's
auclear capability before the door closes. But then India seems to have no intention of
signing the CTBT.

India's plea that its nuclear policy Is international in character and that it should not
disturb the regional countries, docs not seem convincing. The region particularly
Pakistan, is affected by India's awesome build-up of armed forces, supported by ballistic
missiles and nuclear programme. It is not the danger of actual war alone but also the fact
that it signifies military power in international diplomacy to define and shape relations
with regional states.

India must understand the difference between 1974 and now. In 1974, Pakistan could
only respond politically. Now the case is different, in that Pakistan's response may not be
restricted to political field only.

If India does want to play a meaningful role in international and regional affairs, it should
rely on conflict free relations with other countries of South Asia. India has differences
with Pakistan over Kashmir, with Bangladesh over river water, with Sri Lanka* -

252 Emporium Current Essays

over Tamil issue, with Nepal over nuclear-free zone and with

Bhutan over degree of independence.

The dispute between Pakistan and India over Kashmir is potentially more dangerous as it
involves the prospects of use of weapons of mass destruction. The persistent animosity
and tension make India-Pakistan relations worse than ever. Let us accept the fact that the
most immediate threat to peace in South Asia is the

issue of Kashmir.

The real danger to security in South Asia is from poverty, overpopulation, ethnic and
religious conflicts and natural disasters. Unless an environment in which the region
attains meaningful economic growth, reduces poverty, consolidates and develops
democratic culture and limits population growth'is created, not only will its spell danger
to the region but will also have dangerous implications for the world as a whole. Let
India ponder over its policy. For a strategy to ameliorate the suffering of one-fifth of
humanity in South Asia of which a large majority are Indians, the option is clearly
economic and human development and not military

build-up.