S. Noor¹

¹Consultancy

Abstract:

The emerging trends in South Asia’s nuclear politics are running contrary to global non-proliferation norms. The developing trends not only have the tendency to make the nuclear norms more vulnerable, but also undermine the security of the region as a whole. The emerging trends include preferential treatment of India in civil nuclear agreements and its potential membership in the NSG, growing nuclear material stockpiles and the consistent opposition of Pakistan and India to a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) and to the CTBT. Historically, India and Pakistan have developed some confidence building measures and despite hostilities have honored those norms. Likewise, India and Pakistan have honored their unilateral moratorium on nuclear testing till date, notwithstanding nuclear developments. While efforts should be made for a formal ratification of the CTBT by India and Pakistan, it is important to strengthen the norm by encouraging any step in that direction, such as a bilateral test ban treaty.