HVK Archives: Comment on Nuclear Test
Comment on Nuclear Test - The Sunday Times
Milind Gadgil
()
Tuesday May 12, 1998
Title: Comment on Nuclear Test
>From: Mumbai Tarun Bharat,
Date: Tuesday May 12, 1998
Author: Milind Gadgil
Pune, May 11- Senior defence experts today unequivocally welcomed
the news of the pokhran implosions and opined that the step was
in the best interests of the country and actually should have
been taken much earlier.
Former chief of Air staff, Air chief Marshal H. Moolgaonkar, MVC,
PVSM, said in an exclusive interview to Tarun Bharat that the
Vajpayee Govt. has called Pakistan's bluff and given china a
befitting reply. Of late, China had adopted a hegemonistic
attitude towards India. On the other hand, Pakistan was doing
nuclear sabre rattling, without any provocation from India. The
Pokhran blasts have forced Pakistan into a corner. Now it will
either have to demonstrate its own capability or keep quiet.
Former Director of Military Intelligence, Lt. Gen. D.K.
Chandorkar PVSM said that these was no need to be apologetic
about the blasts. The nation should take legitimate pride in its
technological capability and face the world bravely. India was
forced into taking this step by China's nuclear proliferation
activities in Pakistan, which had the covert approval of U.S.A.
Gen. Chandorkar said that the fear of sanctions would prove to be
more imaginary than real.
Air vice Marshal Madhav B. Naik, AVSM, the man who boldly
introduced the Gnat aircraft into the IAF, said that the blasts
needed to be followed up with a proper long term strategic
doctrine, which should be formulated by the National Security
council. The blasts are the best thing to have happened in the
country for a very long time. If Pakistan goes ahead and
demonstrates its capability, if any, then it would attract the
same sanctions as India and Pakistan's economy is today far more
fragile than India's.
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