Politics of the NSG and Ballistic Missile Tests

Politics of the NSG and Ballistic Missile Tests

Dr. Jassim Taqui

In a welcome current issue debate, the  Strategic Vision Institute (SVI) held an In-House Seminar and Panel Discussion focusing on Grossi’s new  Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) criteria where he enlisted nine points for the states to be eligible for the membership of NSG.

The discussion was also held on the Indian test-firing a nuclear capable Agni-V with a range of 5000 km. The Indian plan also to increase the range to 5500 km by developing Agni-Vl. Thus, India would be very soon the sixth state that produces ICMB missiles in addition to Russia, China, the US, UK, and France.

The issue of NSG was discussed in details by the SVI chair Professor Dr. Zafar Iqbal Cheema. Mr. Khalid Banuri and Dr. Adil Sultan.

In the second part of the panel discussion, Agni-V test was discussed along with the regional and global implications and the countermeasures by the government. Dr. Zafar Iqbal Cheema, Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, and Tanzeela Khalil discussed the issue.

Both sessions were followed by a lively debate in which select experts and members of SVI participated.

Due to the sensitive nature of the debate, most of which was confidential, Al-Bab cannot disclose the fascinating debate and panel discussion. However, Al-Bab is of the view that Grossi’s formula is biased and would never contribute to the cause of the non-proliferation objective. The Argentinian Ambassador went out of his way in proposing this India-specific formula. In no way, Pakistan should accept this formula.

India is set to explode its thermonuclear bomb thanks to Grossi’s formula. If Pakistan tempted to join this formula, it would be forced to sign CTBT and deprived of testing its own thermonuclear bomb and conducting more tests to improve its all-important tactical bombs.

As per Agni-V, Al-Bab is of the view that Pakistan has already developed  Nasr ( Hatif-IX) with a range of 4000-5000. Tests were successfully carried on Nasr in 2011. In 2013 it was officially inducted into service.

Pakistan was waiting for the conducive atmosphere to develop Nasr. With the Indian testing of Agni-V, New Delhi has gifted Pakistan the best opportunity to test its ICBM system to become the seventh state in the club of states producing ICBM. Thank you, India for this gift.