Nuclear vision — Vajpayee shows wisdom; now forge a consens

Vajpayee has set at rest one of the major doubts surrounding the government’s nuclear policy. A unilateral declaration of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, as distinct from a willingness to negotiate a no-first-use agreement with other states, confirms beyond all shadow of doubt a non-aggressive stance. It would have been more coherent to adopt an unambivalent position from the start. At this point it appears to be a reaction to the fact that there were no takers for the earlier proposition. Nevertheless, even late as it is, India’s no-first-use policy should carry conviction in the world. At the same time it is a mistake to expect Islamabad to feel pressurised to follow suit. A no-first-use posture is not logical intheory for Pakistan and official spokesmen have indicated as much before and after both countries went overtly nuclear this May. As Pakistan’s high commissioner put it recently, it is a question of maintaining the “strategic balance”. This refers to India’s overwhelming superiority in conventional arms to counter which Pakistan’s strategists argue they need nuclear weapons and a posture also described as defensive.

Clearly, a whole series of other confidence-building and stabilisation measures will be required vis-a-vis Pakistan. Parliament was right to condemn the linkage Islamabad makes between Kashmir and the nuclear question. But that was a foregone conclusion as was its unhelpfulness about putting the bilateral process back on track. With cross-border incidents being stepped up, all Pakistan’s tactics are in full play. The question before Indian policymakers is how to make it worth Islamabad’s while to sit across a table and talk. A united approach by all political parties is called for.Chest-thumping displays are easy and popular. A serious, hard-headed discussion would be more productive and should not be delayed.