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No harm in accepting moratorium on nuclear tests, says expert

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Member of the National Security Advisory Board K. Sreedhar Rao on Friday suggested that there was no harm in India accepting a permanent moratorium on nuclear tests. The U.S. is insisting on such a moratorium in the run-up to the 123 Agreement under the Indo-American civilian nuclear cooperation deal.

Delivering a talk on the deal here, Mr. Rao said conceding the demand would not affect the country’s weapons programme.

The Indian scientists had told him that the research could be continued for some 20 years without any test. Simulated computer tests were enough. If India was forced to conduct tests in the event of neighbours resorting to it, India could depend on the U.S. President’s powers to waive off the moratorium. On the other hand, India may be in a position to dump the agreement and go ahead with the tests after 20 years.

The former Foreign Secretary A.P. Venkateswaran and a few participants expressed apprehension that the deal would lead to over dependence on the U.S. which could adversely affect the country’s security. Mr. Venkateswaran pointed out that the U.S. had failed to keep its 1970 commitment to supply fuel to Tarapur atomic energy plant, leading to huge losses for the country.

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