Downside of more Indian Nuclear tests

Downside of more Indian Nuclear tests
Sultan M Hali
There is a sudden flurry of revelations by Indian scientists that its 1998 thermonuclear tests were a failure and India needs to carry out more tests. Such revelations are not a flash in the pan but there is definite method in the madness that Indian nuclear scientists are trying to bully their government into testing a nuclear weapon. It has been deducted that such a folly would have far reaching effects. It would be a huge setback for India‘s relations with Washington, for the battle against terrorists, and for global efforts to halt the spread of nuclear weapons. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is resisting so far and he must continue to resist in the best interests of India and the world.

If India tests, the United States is bound by a 2008 agreement to cut off all sales of nuclear fuel and technology. That would be a huge setback to India’s plans to expand its nuclear power generation and its economy. It is feared that if India tests, Pakistan may follow suit. That would raise tensions between the two longtime rivals, and it would further distract Islamabad and its Armed Forces from the raging battle against the Taliban and other extremists inside Pakistan and along its border with Afghanistan. US Congress recently approved a five-year, $7.5 billion aid package to strengthen civilian rule in Pakistan and encourage the fight against extremists. The bill has a number of encumbrances where the US State Department has to certify deliverables on the part of Pakistan, There would be strong pressure to cut that aid if Pakistan tested. In case India and Pakistan test (China also may be unable to resist), it could make it even harder for President Obama to persuade the US Senate to ratify the test ban treaty, which he has painstakingly reinstated last month.

India (followed by Pakistan) last conducted nuclear tests in 1998. The earlier notice by India to test again has been received with mixed feelings in the Indian media as well as the scientific community. In recent weeks, the debate took on a new urgency when some a top nuclear scientists made the case public. K. Santhanam, a director for the 1998 test-site preparations, claimed those tests did not yield the desired results and were a fizzle. One has to wonder why he waited 11 years to raise the alarm. It is suspected that Mr. Santhanam and his colleagues are worried that if Washington finally ratifies the treaty, India may feel compelled to sign on. The treaty’s appeal is undeniable. Some 182 nations have signed it and 150 have ratified it. It limits the ability of nuclear states to field fancier warheads and makes it harder for nuclear wannabes to develop weapons. But it cannot enter into force until nine key states including the United States, China and India also ratify. Mr. Obama has pledged to work for Senate ratification and urged all other holdouts to do so. So far, New Delhi does not seem to be taking Mr. Santhanam’s bait. India does not need to carry any more nuclear tests, the Indian Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Anil Kakodkar, said last month. He insisted that his agency has confidence in its ability to get the weapons data it needs by conducting simulated tests. He should keep insisting. The United States should make it clear that India has more to gain by focusing on economic growth and expanding global cooperation than on developing more nuclear weapons. And it should leave no doubt about how much India and the rest of the world has to lose if New Delhi makes the wrong choice.

While this shadow boxing continues, details of Indian nuclear proliferation continue to accumulate, which the world in general and USA in particular remain oblivious of. India’s nuclear assets are far from being safe as Hindu fundamentalists are too rigid to realize the norms of civilized world. They are power hungry and can go to any extent to achieve their objectives. A number of freedom movements are a constant source of trouble in India. Similarly Hindu extremists running their own bomb factories may try to grab Indian nukes. There is a lack of information about security lapses / accidents which took place in Indian nuclear program as compared to other nuclear states. We need to expose the vulnerabilities of Indian nuclear assets. Following aspects explain the extent to which Indian nuclear assets are poorly safeguarded:

Indian Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has documented more than 130 extremely serious safety issues in the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC); Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research; Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited; Uranium Corporation of India Limited: Indian Rare Earths Limited; Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), and Heavy Water Board. Cirus, 40 MW has a history of developing radiation leaks. Candu reactors are suffering from massive leakage of heavy water. Waste tanks at BARC habitually develop major leaks. Dhruva suffers from design problems, fuel leakages. The Fast Breeder Test Reactor of 40 MW at Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, built with French assistance, was rated ‘not safe’, and discarded. Similar reactors, like Super Phoenix of France and Monju of Japan, were also discarded because of safety hazards. Incidents of leakage took place in Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) in 1986, 1988 and 1991. Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant, Narora, Kakrapar, Gujarat, Tarapur, Maharashtra, Russian VVER Light Water Reactor and NFC Hyderabad developed safety problems.

It is a misconception that India has a clean proliferation record and hence deserves to be supplied with nuclear material / technology. Following aspects merit cognizance: US based Safe Energy Communication Council has described the Indian nuclear program as the least efficient and most dangerous in the world. US Congressman Ed Markey, noted that India is not successfully guarding its nuclear facilities. Mr. R.K.Yadav a former employee of RAW, filed a case against 19 senior officials of RAW for leaking sensitive information. The mysterious death of Indian nuclear scientist has given rise to profound doubts about the loopholes in Indian nuclear programme. Important nuclear installations and research centers such as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and a number of other nuclear plants and uranium conversion facilities are not part of IAEA safeguards and are also not protected effectively.