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India & Pakistan officially becoming nuclear powers would spell 'disaster' for non-proliferation treaty Moscow
At any rate, pushing India and Pakistan two nuclear-armed neighbors and foes towards joining the 1968 pact "would be disastrous for the treaty itself," the diplomat warned, without delving into details
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Extending the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on the entire world is generally a good idea, but an official recognition of India and Pakistan as nuclear powers is not their accession to the pact would ruin it, Moscow warned. "The fact that Pakistan, India and Israel according to some estimates possess nuclear weapons does not indeed help strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT]," Vladimir Yermakov, head of the Russian foreign ministry's arms control and non-proliferation department, told media on Wednesday. |
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Arch-rivals for several decades, both Pakistan and India embarked on a race to build nuclear weapons in a bid to secure wartime superiority over one another. Almost a year ago, Islamabad and New Delhi reportedly put their nuclear arsenals on high alert when a series of cross-border airstrikes pushed them to the brink of an all-out war until mutual diplomatic effort and good will defused that crisis. Russia is willing to see the NPT cover the whole world, "but this is not always easy here," Yermakov pointed out. At least, he said, "both India and Pakistan have a generally positive attitude towards the NPT, while not being parties to this agreement." Opened for signature in 1968, the treaty actually came into force in 1970 and was extended for an indefinite period of time in 1995. It specifically defines five nuclear-weapon states the United States, Russia, the UK, France, and China that have either built or tested a nuclear explosive device before January 1, 1967. Since that time, the NPT remains the most universal strategic arms control treaty in history and one of the most sustainable ones, given the fate of two milestone accords signed by the nuclear superpowers, the US and Russia. One of them, the 1987 Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) was buried by the US last year, when it quit the accord, citing vague allegations about Russia's non-compliance with it. Moscow opposed the move, arguing that torpedoing the pact which outright banned the entire classes of short- and medium-range missiles would not make the world any safer. Another one, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (or New START), now hangs in the balance. Moscow and Washington signed the current edition of the accord back in 2010, agreeing to cut the number of warheads and their carriers following a series of tough negotiations The New START is due to expire in February 2021, but the US isn't inclined to keep the treaty going, it seems although Moscow is openly signalling its readiness to prolong the pact without preliminary conditions
5 March 20
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India's River Diversion Plan and South Asia's Waters More dams are to come, as Indias need to power its economy means it is quietly spending billions on hydropower in Kashmir. The Senate report totted up 33 hydro projects in the border area with Pakistan. The states chief minister, Omar Abdullah, says dams will add an extra 3,000MW to the grid in the next eight years alone. Some analysts in Srinagar talk of over 60 dam projects, large and small, now on the books. (This special report has appeared in the Bulletin on Current Affairs - February 2012, you may have to Buy the print edition to read full story) More in the Edition: South Asia's Water - a growing rivalry Indian, Pakistani & Chinese Border Disputes India's River Diversion Plan: Its impact on Bangladesh Water Crisis can Trigger nuclear war in South Asia Reclaimed Water - the Western Experience Bulletin on Current Affairs is delivered FREE of cost to the members of Bookmark Book Club
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