Future Nuclear Commerce.

July 9, 2010 - PRLog -- Spearhead Analysis - 09.07.10

India’s ‘PNE’—Peaceful Nuclear Explosion if there is such a thing—in 1974 started the proliferation process in South Asia. India misused nuclear material and technology supplied by the US and Canada and this led to the formation of the NSG—the Nuclear Suppliers Group—with guidelines to control the trade in nuclear materials. The US- India Civilian Nuclear Technology Agreement and its endorsement by the NSG under US pressure have opened the gates for nuclear commerce. The US-India Agreement is country specific and precedent setting and the NSG stands weakened because of it. India is moving quickly to consolidate nuclear trade agreements with the US, UK, France, Canada, Japan, Russia and possibly Australia. It is doing so because it has the resources and because it knows that the NSG will have to do something to salvage its tattered reputation.

It would be futile to impose new regulatory procedures for nuclear commerce unless they apply retroactively to India. This is unlikely even though India stands out as the original proliferator in South Asia. Lost in translation is Pakistan’s proposal for a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in South Asia and subsequently a Strategic Restraints Regime. India as the only non NPT country for which an exception has been made is now center stage in future nuclear proliferation. India’s much touted ‘impeccable’ record is meaningless as is the India sponsored propaganda against Pakistan to deny it nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Bringing Pakistan under pressure for a past proliferation episode by adding new angles and accusations will not cut any ice.

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