PM declares no-first strike

The twin declarations were part of the debate on foreign policy that began in the House yesterday. As Vajpayee moved to wind it up, he incorporated New Delhi8217;s positions on the CTBT, a no-first use policy based on a minimum deterrent, Kashmir as well as the dialogue with Pakistan at the SAARC summit last week.

The no-first use declaration, a culmination of the process set into place when New Delhi exploded five nuclear devices in May,actually involves two aspects: a promise to not to use nuclear weapons against states who do not possess nuclear weapons, as well as, not to be the first to use them against those who do.

Both declarations also signal India8217;s willingness to 8220;engage meaningfully8221; with the five nuclear powers, sources said, a commitment the US has long been seeking before any quid pro quos can be dealt with India.

In three weeks time, the PM8217;s roving envoy Jaswant Singh goes to Washington for another round of talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, while two US Senators, including Richard Shelby, the chairman of the US Senate Intelligence Committee, are in town to meet the senior Indian leadership. The crux of the Indo-US dialogue revolves around India8217;s signature on the CTBT, in exchange for which New Delhi wants so far restricted high technology.

Vajpayee8217;s announcement today on India8217;s willingness to adhere to the CTBT was deliberately wrapped up in diplomatese, perhaps a concession to the fact thatthe subject has not been discussed with the other political parties.

8220;We can maintain the credibility of our nuclear deterrent in the future without testing. India remains committed to this dialogue with key interlocutors with a view to arriving at a decision regarding adherence to the CTBT,8221; he said.

Government sources said India8217;s no-first use formulation comes closest to that made by China in 1964, the only other power to have done so. 8220;We have now declared our nuclear doctrine. As far as the CTBT goes, now that we possess baseline nuclear data, certain objections that were valid before are no longer valid,8221; the sources said.

The declaration on no-first use, in contrast, seemed to have been made almost in passing. Vajpayee was denying charges of India8217;s isolation in the Lok Sabha after New Delhi went nuclear 8220;how can a country of a billion people be isolated8221;, when he said, 8220;These tests were not intended for offence, but for self-defence, in order that our integrity and independence isnever jeopardised. This is the basis of our policy.

8220;We have stated we will not be the first to use nuclear weapons,8221; he added, when Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav interrupted him to ask what India would do if it was attacked.

8220;The thought should be discarded, that other countries use these weapons and we cannot retaliate. Our arsenal is a credible deterrent. Nuclear war shouldn8217;t take place,8221; the PM replied to the thumping of Treasury benches.

8220;Those who don8217;t have nuclear weapons, to use nuclear weapons against them, the question doesn8217;t arise. When we say we won8217;t be the first to use nuclear weapons, the idea of its use on non-nuclear weapons states becomes meaningless,8221; he added. On Pakistan, the PM said that Islamabad was using Kashmir as the 8220;centerpiece of its strategy8221; and was now linking it to non-proliferation. India, he said, was willing to discuss Kashmir as well as other issues with Pakistan, but that country only wanted to 8220;draw international attention8221;.

He added,8220;I have wondered why Pakistan is focussing on Kashmir. It is because Pakistan is not happy with its borders. It wants to change the reality8230;for us Kashmir is not only a piece of real estate, we have principles attached to it.8221;