Nerve Endings Firing Away

The United States is finally waking up to the new reality of nuclear powers in the world as they come closer to accepting India as a responsible nuclear power. During a recent visit to the White House, Manmohan Singh and Bush will sign a deal that will “remove a ban on civilian nuclear technology sales to India.” In return for international inspections and safeguards on the civilian nuclear program, India will be able to obtain nuclear fuel and reactor components from other countries legitimately. Apart from significantly improving India-US relations, the deal underlines India’s status as a responsible nuclear power. However as always, there are detractors around.

“Why should the United States sell controlled nuclear goods to India?” asked Representative Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts after announcement of the agreement. “We cannot play favorites, breaking the rules of the nonproliferation treaty to favor one nation at the risk of undermining critical international treaties on nuclear weapons” [source: NY Times].

Nitin Pai has responded appropriately, citing transgressions by other countries like China, Pakistan, and North Korea were largely ignored. Pakistan’s drama-riddled nuclear scandal was quickly brushed under the carpet as the nuclear terrorist, Dr. Ayub Khan — the man responsible for selling nuclear technology to Libya, Iran, and North Korea was let off lightly. North Korea, Pakistan, and even China haven’t declared their no-first use policy and regularly threaten their adversaries with their nuclear prowess.  The NPT has fared dismally in reining in rogue states that flaunt nuclear capability but India has remained steadfast in its commitment on using nuclear power for peaceful purposes and signing a no-first use policy even or rather especially in trying times of national security. The Congress and other major nuclear-armed nations – Britain, France, China and Russia — must understand the changed reality of today’s world and respect stability and assurance that India provides.