CTBT: India sends appeasing signals

New Delhi8217;s latest position has obviously taken into account the evolving scenario internationally, where France has led the way in blocking concerted sanctions the US wanted to impose. Subsequently, Russia and Britain also announced they would not support international sanctions.

Having succeeded in, at least the short term, dividing western reaction to India8217;s nuclear status, New Delhi now seems to be signalling that it is ready to talk as a responsible member of the nuclear club.

Primarily,it does not want to get into an acrimonious debate over the acknowledgement of its status, since last week8217;s explosions have categorically shown that, like it or not, India is the world8217;s sixth nuclear weapons state. The sources pointed out that principal secretary Brajesh Mishra had already made clear that 8220;someone has to reconcile the reality8221; between the fact that the NPT only talks about five nuclear weapons states and India8217;s brand new entry into the nuclear club.

Having decided to meaningfully engage in dialogue with its key interlocutors, New Delhi feels the time is right to take another comprehensive look at the entire non-proliferation regime.

The Ministry sources said the NPT and the CTBT were 8220;flawed and discriminatory8221; instruments that only sought to take the security concerns of the five nuclear powers into account. Now that India has exploded the sanctity of these treaties, it might be time to 8220;look at the totality of this non-proliferation regime and not merely tinker with somecomponents,8221; the sources added.

8220;When we engage in discussions, we have to talk about addressing our security concerns as well8230;but first we must carry conviction about this dialogue,8221; the sources said. They pointed out that India8217;s willingness to participate in the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty as well as in accepting certain provisions of the CTBT indicated the seriousness of New Delhi8217;s approach.

The sources were not willing to talk about what provisions of the CTBT New Delhi could adhere to, but pointed out treaties were evolving, dynamic instruments that were not 8220;graven in stone8230;the international community must find ways and means of reconciling these treaties with reality.8221;

The sources said India8217;s commitment to nuclear disarmament 8220;remains undiluted, which is what sets us apart from other nuclear weapons states. No other country has put forward these initiatives or demonstrated commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons8221; as India has done since 1954.

Pinaka testfired

India today successfully test fired its double-barrel rocket system Pinaka8217; from the interim test range ITR at Chandipur today.The system was built indigenously. The test was undertaken to further improve the capability of the rocket system.