THE nuclear race started after World War II. At present, Asia is the point of concern from this perspective. Arch-rivals Pakistan and India, having fought several wars in less than seven decades, are still bitter rivals. Their nuclear race has made Asia a nuclear flashpoint.

India went nuclear in 1974, using civil nuclear technology, including nuclear reactors imported from Canada with the provision of using it only for peaceful purpose. This infuriated Canada which regarded the activity as a breach of agreement.

Once again India is being encouraged by Western powers to pursue their strategic interests.

This prompted the United States to have a civil nuclear deal waiver for India to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group and have nuclear material imports agreements with Japan, Australia, and primarily Canada (which will export uranium to India for five years), which are all discriminatory steps.

These steps have just augmented the arms race in the region. All these efforts are clearly against nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament promises pledged by nuclear powers.

The nuclear powers should reconsider their strategy which is leading the world towards a catastrophe.

They should go for strict disarmament to provide a nuclear and conflict-free world for generations to come. Otherwise, it will be a huge mistake which will wipe out humans from earth.

Ghulam Qasim

Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play