Nuclearisation liability for India, Pakistan, says Bidwai
Saturday, June 07, 2008
By our correspondent

Karachi

Indian peace activist Praful Bidwai has blasted the arguments cited in favour of South Asian nuclearisation asserting that the nuclear capabilities of both India and Pakistan as assets, which have become liabilities.

Bidwai, also a syndicated columnist whose writings appear on antiwar.com, delivered a lecture on ‘Taking the peace process forward 10 years after the nuclear tests’ held on Thursday under the aegis of Pakistan Institute of Labour and Educational Research (PILER). Bidwai said the time has falsified the theory of nuclear deterrence as Kargil episode was mid-size conflict involving 40,000 troops, which used top-line weaponry. He warned that nuclear clash between India and Pakistan has become finite possibility as plutonium and centrifuges have progressed out of laboratories. He said it was argued that the nuclear weapons will contain conflict between the two countries on the basis of balance of terror besides enhancing both countries’ say in global affairs but both arguments turned out to be false. He said the region has turned more volatile since the nuclear tests a decade ago.

Advocating moratorium on nuclear weapon, Bidwai said there are 2,000 nuclear weapons on high alert. He pointed out the lack of any strategic depth between India and Pakistan. “We are testing missiles as if children are playing with firecrackers,” he added. “India will soon test Agni-3 capable of reaching mainland China.” Bidwai said both India and Pakistan failed to achieve anything substantial after going nuclear.

Moreover, he noted that India had 13 rounds of talk with the deputy secretary of state in last years convincing the US to behave responsibly. “India voted against Iran in the UN twice to jeopardise the IPI gas pipeline project.” Referring to Pakistan’s post-nuke image, Bidwai said Pakistan before and after the 1998 nuclear explosions was regarded by the West as rogue and failed state. He believed the image has not improved as yet as the nuclear Pakistan has been widely discussed and considered more as liability for the West.

Bidwai, the winner of Sean McBride International Peace Award along with fellow Achin Vanaik, accentuated the need of creating South Asian identity by establishing a regional economic cooperation between South Asian states on the pattern of European Union (EU). He said mutual trade between India and Pakistan is less than five per cent whereas the same has reached 60 per cent in case of the EU. He supported duty-free entry of Pakistani goods into Indian market as it won’t hurt the interests of local peasants and producers.

The 59-year-old activist said the peace movement besides aiming demilitarisation must pave the way for greater trade and economic cooperation between South Asian states mainly between India and Pakistan. He believed that the diversity and plurality of the region necessitate putting down the barriers. He believed that the peace movement must have a comprehensive agenda incorporating demilitarisation, looking at each other in non-adversarial way, while promoting issues such as energy and open visa policy, to move forward for the prosperity of the people.

Moreover, he suggested setting-up of the People’s Commission on South Asia to compile history, culture and economy of the region just to counter the negative stuff that have been stuffed into the textbooks of both India and Pakistan. “Our textbooks have established false identities.” Bidwai asked the peace activists on both sides of the border to broaden their perspective to get into the mainstream forums such as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). He also prescribed cultural reconciliation between India and Pakistan extending regular interaction amongst ‘citizen diplomats’ of India and Pakistan.