Why India Should Sign CTBT-Returning to Our Own Agenda

Returning to Our Own Agenda Praful Bidwai Achin Vanaik AT the time of writing, it remains uncertain whether or not India will sign the CTBT, A significant section of those who have supported India going openly nuclear are now prepared to go along with the CTBT in return for a behind-the-scenes deal involving the effective lifting of sanctions and greater freedom for India to import dual-use technologies relevant for the continuation and upgradation of its nuclear and missile development programmer After all. accepting the CTBT does not prevent India from going ahead with its current plans to weaponise and deploy a nuclear delivery system or to set up the associated command, control, communications and intelligence networks. For this section of Indian pro-nuclearists. acceptance of the CTBT is the minimum price the Indian government will have to pay if it wants to end its current international political isolation and make some mark as a supposedly responsible de facto nuclear weapons power by involving itself in ongoing international arms restraint activities.