In TIMES OF INDIA May 25 there is an op-ed piece by P.R. Chari titled "Pokhran was a mistake". He says the official reason given for the 1998 nuclear tests was "security compulsions" while the "spin doctors" argued that it enabled India to stake claim to great power status. However in his analysis, (a) Pokhan had a negative fallout, (b) it did not mprve India's security and (c) it placed India in a "strategic box" compromising its national security.
He concludes "The jury is still out on whether these tests were required at all. But one thing is for certain: Security considerations were the least of priorities informing the tests". >From our standpoint in Goa, his point about India's "two track arms race" is worrisome. Even while building up its expensive nuclear arsenal of long range missiles, India is strenthening its equally expensive conventional armoury. No let up at Dabolim can be expected as a result.
