Pakistan, India urged to rethink NPT strategy
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WASHINGTON: Two peace groups are urging India and Pakistan to rethink their strategy for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, as United Nations launched a drive to curb nuclear weapons.
“It is imperative that India and Pakistan rethink their strategy for NPT and become signatory,” argued Dr Mohammed A. Khalid, who heads the Washington chapters of both groups, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) and International Physicians to Prevent Nuclear War (IPPNW).
The two organisations which have won the Nobel Peace Prize are among the largest peace groups in the world with branches in more than 60 countries.
Take a look: Sound bytes: 'Pakistan is engaged in nuclear competition'
“Signing NPT will be particularly beneficial for Pakistan,” said Dr Khalid, arguing that it would help the country rebuild its reputation, “badly tainted by terrorism and by allegations that it exported nuclear technology to other countries”.
Dr Khalid also noted that both India and Pakistan had more than 100 nuclear warheads, enough to destroy the entire region.
The two groups recently conducted a study, which showed that if a nuclear war broke out in this region, “both countries would cease to exist”.
The fallout would cause a famine that would go beyond the region and affect more than three billion people around the globe, the study claimed.
Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015
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Comments (24) Closed
May 04, 2015 06:37am
all four wars were imposed on india. no 1st use of weapons by india. a matured country on international stage prooved.wherever indians have gone they mixed with that country and contribute in progression. india was threaten by dictator for n. weapons. world noted that.india never export such technology to other country. a stable country with making progress on international stage. a global power. now it is upto the concern authority or the people of concern country to think, who should be control and who threans the world. not india sir.
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May 04, 2015 06:47am
A nuclear free region and a world is a dream but can become a reality if super powers take first step to eliminate their stock piles of weapons of mass destruction.
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May 04, 2015 06:50am
Sign it, if US and Russia can sign it any nuclear country can sign it. However India and China should urge the world to adopt "NO FIRST USE" policy which has far more high moral value than silly NPT.
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May 04, 2015 06:50am
How is NPT related to war between the two countries? This is not the agenda for India or Pakistan, signing the NPT will benefit US and Europe. Agree to the statement that if Pak signs the NPT, its reputation will enhance, but what is stopping Pakistan to violate the treaty?
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May 04, 2015 07:01am
These people conveniently ignore China!
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May 04, 2015 07:03am
India has a No First Use doctrine, recently confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Security is a key part of India's nuclear strategy. China's nuclear strength is a worry to India, as is its more advanced strategic weapons. Also a worry is the traditionally close relationship between China and Pakistan.Besides India's nuclear strategy is not Pakistan centric,but takes into consideration other factors.India believe that complete disarmament of all nation-states should be aimed at, as an urgent necessity, if the world is not to be reduced to barbarism.
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May 04, 2015 07:05am
why should India sign that? as they are getting a huge deal fro |Canada and USA without signing such deal. If India wont sign Pakistan wont sign. However, China and Israel are conveniently ignored by these so called U controllers.
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May 04, 2015 07:06am
Shouldn't Dr Mohammed A. Khalid be telling China, France, Russia, UK and USA to give up their nuclear weapons? They have way more nukes than Pakistan, Israel, N. Korea or india.
Are P5 the guardian angels of the world?
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May 04, 2015 07:54am
Why just India and Pakistan? The entire world should be free of nuclear warheads. Perhaps these organisations would preach to China, USA, Russia, UK, France, Germany, etc as well.
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May 04, 2015 08:10am
Nuclear deterrance is meaningless now.It is suicidal.Use it at your own cost whether you sign NPT or not.Those who flex nuclear muscle are foolish.
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May 04, 2015 08:12am
A nuclear free region would generally lead to more wars, considering the fact that nuclear weapons act as a deterrent to an all-out war. Also, I doubt India would give up nuclear weapons unless China were to do so as well (Given that India doesn't trust the Chinese 'No First Use' Policy).
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May 04, 2015 09:04am
Shouldn't we start with countries that made it first? Time has come now that India must engage meaningfully with Pakistan on the nuclear issue among other issues. India’s agreement with the U.S. came with driving force which was commercial, how many plants have been set up in India? One must have a deep relationship with the people with whom you collaborate and they must stick to you in times of need.
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May 04, 2015 09:09am
Pakistan needs is stockpiles to counter india which has been aggressively trying to marginalize pakistan on the interests front for a long time now, followed by threats of attacks.
India should be the first one to sign this NPT.
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May 04, 2015 09:42am
if both countries agree mutal understanding, respect, economics, then these nukes would not harm anyone, but if either country chose to destroy their assets then they are open for world to destroy us.
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May 04, 2015 09:45am
India and Pakistan share the same history, culture and tradition since centuries irrespective of religion being practiced. In a fit of deep anguish and disbelief against each other, we should not invite any unwanted calamity to both by competing in the nuclear race. If India and Pakistan join together in development who can offend them in South Asia. Let us all earnestly hope that such fine day will certainly DAWN.
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May 04, 2015 10:36am
Why usually Pakistan has been persuaded to sign NPT? Why not India? There is a high rate of persuasion for Pakistan which should equally be directed towards India too. It’s not Pakistan who have introduced nuclear weapons in the region but it is very India which started its nuclear weaponization under disguise of Atoms for Peace. The international community absolutely intentionally ignores India massive stockpiling of exported yellow cakes in addition to its own indigenous uranium. The very signatory of member states of NPT are extending strong support to India which is clear cut violation of NPT. It looks like NPT is meant to be violated by its very own signatories for the sake of national interest.
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May 04, 2015 12:11pm
What about Israel's warheads ? What about America's warheads ? Those are some seriously massive stockpiles . Pakistan is on the radar just because it's a Muslim country. And as far is "Nuclear smuggling" is concerned , what about plans for nuclear submarines illegally obtained by India from US ? What about Modi's request to Obama that tracking tags be removed from Nuclear components supplied to India ? That doesn't sound too good to me?
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May 04, 2015 03:16pm
Why urge India?
They failed in their last nuclear tests, which is enough to prove that they are nothing more than hoax, and thereof seeking technology France by unfair means, whereas France is already a signatory who is violating his pacts.
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May 04, 2015 04:56pm
@Siddique India will get world class nuclear technology of Pakistan from North Korea and Sudan which Pakistan transferred to them and will become equal to Pakistan in nuclear tech know how.
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May 04, 2015 06:21pm
Concerns remain about those who have not signed; notably Israel, whose “opaque” nuclear programme causes a problem to the regional security complex in the Middle East. Regions suffering from prolonged conflict will continue to pose problems for the NPT, as states are more likely to proliferate when they are worried about their security needs. Iran for example is seen as a likely proliferator due to its dual conflicts with Israel and historically with Iraq
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May 04, 2015 09:08pm
Remember Iran and Libya when they signed NPT ?
What happened to them?
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May 04, 2015 09:30pm
@Siddique So what your thought about China ? Is it a signatory of NPT or not? How is it helping Pakistan clandestinely to keep a check on India?
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May 04, 2015 11:24pm
Rightly said by Mr. Khalid but how can India sign the NPT after when he has been given privilege because of the U.S. nuclear deal. International community is reluctant in reviewing the Indian nuclear program, which is being covertly expanded. India has the fastest growing nuclear weapons program and has the ability to produce larger nuclear weapons from fissile material in no time. Pakistan’s primary threat is from India so how it can normalize its concerns over NPT when India is nowhere near to sign it?
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May 05, 2015 07:37am
After Proliferating Nuclear Technology what is the point in signing NPT for Pak , China proliferated it after signing NPT via N korea!
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