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Journalism of Courage
In calling for a 8220;more robust approach8221; to civil nuclear cooperation with India at Hokkaido, Japan on Wednesday, the leaders of the group of eight industrialised countries have come a long way. Recall their statement, exactly 10 years ago now, at their summit in Birmingham in the UK. Meeting under the shadow of India8217;s series of nuclear tests in May 1998, the G8 went ballistic. Strongly condemning India8217;s tests on May 17, 1998 Pakistan was yet to respond with its own tests, the leaders of the G8 demanded that India 8220;adhere unconditionally to the NPT and the CTBT8221;, expressed 8220;grave concern8221; about the 8220;increased risk of nuclear and missile proliferation in South Asia8221;, and warned that 8220;India8217;s relationship with each of us has been affected8221; by Pokharan II. The G88217;s opening salvo against India was followed by an equally vigorous denunciation by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. The international hostility towards a nuclear India was capped by a unanimous UNSC resolution in June 1998. China, in a separate statement accused India of seeking hegemony in South Asia. Japan followed suit with a series of sanctions.
The complete reversal of the G88217;s approach to India is a huge tribute to this government8217;s diplomatic efforts, especially since July 2005, when Prime Minister Manmohan Sing unveiled the Indo-US nuclear initiative with President Bush in Washington. These efforts have now resulted in Hokkaido. A previous American President, Bill Clinton, led the international charge against India in May 1998; his successor Bush has promised Dr Singh whatever support is required to get the nuclear deal approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the US Congress in the coming weeks and months. The PM should be especially pleased that the international endorsement has come in Japan, which although friendly to India, had deep reservations 8212; rooted in its history as the only victim of nuclear bombing 8212; about the Indo-US agreement. Hokkaido also saw him converting Chinese anxieties about the deal into a promise not to oppose it.
