Unfortunately not in this lifetime (Revelation 15)

Dailytimes | A world free of nuclear weapons

On the eve of the International Day against Nuclear Tests, Pakistan has reiterated its offer for a bilateral arrangement with India on non-testing of nuclear weapons. While speaking at the UN General Assembly meeting, Pakistani delegate Yasar Ammar said, “Our commitment of not being the first to resume nuclear testing in our region also testifies our resolve to support the treaty’s objectives and purposes.” Islamabad’s commitment is praiseworthy and needs to be reciprocated by India. Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation are in the interests of nuclear-capable states. Nuclear capability is no more a deterrence; rather, it has become a liability, and sooner the nuclear-armed states get rid of these arsenals, better the world will be.

Despite making good progress on stopping the proliferation of nuclear arms, the world is facing a growing threat of a nuclear war among hostile states as well as misuse of nuclear weapons by extremists who are trying to have access to these arsenals. Soon after taking charge as the president of the US, Barack Obama had pledged to rid the world of nuclear arms -- a commitment that has not been materialised yet. The world needs to be more conscious of dangers associated with nuclear threat, and evolve failsafe strategies to save nuclear technology from going into the hands of terror groups. World powers should focus on efforts to lock down vulnerable atomic materials to prevent nuclear terrorism. A mutual ban on making further nuclear tests by Pakistan and India is need of the hour, and both states should cooperate in this regard. The leadership of both Pakistan and India claims that they have developed nuclear weapons as deterrence against any possible attack from either side. But these are only perceived fears that have no real grounds.

It is not rocket science. A nuclear war could yield an unprecedented human death toll and habitat destruction. Nobody is oblivious of the terrible consequences of using nuclear weapons. A total of 140,000 people were killed in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 when the US dropped a nuclear bomb on the city. Therefore, these weapons are never going to be used in any case, and all states should cooperate and follow nuclear agreements in letter and spirit for the sake of humanity.

Although India and Pakistan have not signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and Non-Proliferation Treaty, yet, ironically, they harbor a deep desire to become a part of the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group. Instead of focusing on the acquisition of more advanced nuclear capability, more efforts should be made to promote regional cooperation. Arms build-up by various states is hardly necessary in a world that badly needs peace. Instead of getting involved in the arms race and making irrational increases in defence budgets, rival states should spend money on positive usage of this technology. It is also necessary for Pakistan and India that instead of escalating tensions and increasing military expenditure, they should work for the establishment of lasting peace. Pakistan and India being neighbouring countries should focus on basic problems of their people. They should try to bring prosperity to their nations instead of indulging in an irrational nuclear arms race. *