Abstract
This chapter explores the Nuclear Proliferation Cases of “Emerging Powers” of India and Pakistan. The chapter presents case studies of two developing and neighbor countries known to have nuclear weapons, India and Pakistan, who have never declared its nuclear capability. Against the premise of a mutual suspicion and hostility, nuclear weapons found its way to the South East and aided directly or indirectly by western nuclear powers. The principal question of this chapter seeks to answer is: what is the level of technological capability and the motivation behind these states’ decision to develop nuclear weapons? The argument made here is that many factors impacted upon their nuclear weapons decisions. Overall, the two countries show international dimensions and collaboration with one or more of the established five nuclear states—both in the development of their nuclear complex and in the development of its motivations.
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Notes
- 1.
However, India and Pakistan’s nuclear activity became obvious after their respective tests in 1998.
- 2.
Nuclear proliferation refers to the spread of nuclear weapons, fissile material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information to nations not recognized as “Nuclear Weapon States” by the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also known as the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty or NPT. These states are not allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
- 3.
Nehru stated in parliament that “Plutonium is of great importance, as it is not available as a commercial commodity. Its production is essential in order to enable the country to set up breeder power stations using thorium, which we have in ample measure.”
- 4.
For example, the annual report of the Indian Department of Atomic Energy for 1980–1981 states that “the Indian nuclear program employs some 18,021 scientific and technical personnel and 11,651 auxiliary and administrative staff.” It was also reported that “from 1978–79 to 1980–81, the scientific and technical staff had grown by two to three thousand per year”.
- 5.
For example, the Baroda plant, which started up in 1977, was closed from 1977–1980 due to an explosion and a fire.
- 6.
This was Wayne Wilcox’s conclusion regarding the period before India’s first detonation.
- 7.
The accounts were based on a US intelligence briefing to a congressional committee.
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Asuelime, L.E., Adekoye, R.A. (2016). A Historical Analysis of South East Asian “Emerging Powers” Nuclear Proliferation: India and Pakistan. In: Nuclear Proliferation in South Africa. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33373-1_6
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