Drawing False Conclusions

The Indian Left's position on the question of nuclear weapons free zones or WMD free zones has been characterised by several flip-flops. In west Asia, it has supported nuclearisation in the name of opposing American hegemony, while it retains a continued, if inconsistent, belief in nuclear deterrence in south Asia. But the Left now has to clarify its perspective on how best to deal with American military might. To do this needs recognition of the fact that it is in these two regions in Asia where nuclear weapons are most likely to be used and therefore the need for urgent denuclearisation.