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Libya drops a bombshell

Libya drops a bombshell

Author: Editorial
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: January 6, 2004
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/archive_full_story.php?content_id=38619

Introduction: To deal with nuclear proliferation, the world needs to go beyond ad hoc responses

Evidence has been mounting of the mushrooming of nuclear proliferation to North Korea, Iran, Iraq earlier, and now Libya since the eighties, with some intelligence reports indicating its continuation even now. Then there were the suspicions of Saudi Arabia's acquisition of long-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles from China in 1987, and the recent hobnobbing of the Saudi leadership with nuclear establishment in Pakistan. The nuclear proliferation road to each and all these countries seems to originate in Islamabad/ Kahuta. Muammar Gaddafi's son, who negotiated Libya's renunciation of its clandestine nuclear weapons programme, has left the world in no doubt that Libya acquired its bomb technology and material from Pakistan.

Given its role in promoting jihadi terrorism and nuclear proliferation, it may be easy to conclude that nothing better could be expected from Pakistan. But the rationale for Pakistan to indulge in such proliferation goes beyond mere financial benefit or religion-driven motivations, although they certainly played a role. Two questions would need to be addressed for the future. First, what should, or can be, done about Pakistan? There are sufficient indications that the US and the international community would not be willing or able to apply any pressure for it to change its grand strategy in any meaningful way. Second, how should the world address the larger question of non-proliferation dangers?

The non-proliferation philosophy has been constructed so far on the principle of denial and ad hoc measures. These have their utility in delaying proliferation, but as the current mushrooming shows, they have proved inadequate in stopping the phenomenon. The denial regimes would work even less as the developing countries move up the technology development ladder. This is why the International Atomic Energy Agency head says that the existing system has ruptured. What is urgently needed is to work out a durable regime that goes beyond the current denial philosophy to a durable balance between non- proliferation and disarmament. This is particularly important if the peaceful uses of nuclear technology are to be harnessed for development in developing countries.
 


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