South Asia goes nuclear: Indian and Pakistani positions

Abstract

For some time, we here at Contemporary South Asia have discussed the need for a neutral forum in which prominent South Asians are able to present full and frank views on particular issues affecting the future of the region and its peoples. As such, perhaps no single issue is more important than the recent series of nuclear tests by India and Pakistan. The political, security and economic ramifications of these tests are immense for both the region and the world, and have commanded unprecedented levels of attention and discussion. It is thus our pleasure to inaugurate a new, occasional series of non‐refereed ‘Viewpoints’ with the following comments by H.E. Chandrasekhar Dasgupta, India's Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, and H.E. Riaz Mohammad Khan, Pakistan's Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, on the reasons behind and the reactions to their respective governments’ decisions regarding nuclear testing.