It has been 2 decades since Pokaran nuclear tests of 1998 (Pokran – II).
India has more or less achieved the envisioned strategic goals, but the road has not been smooth.
Why did India go nuclear?
A future India with nuclear weapons, which would provide for a strategic and military leverage, was hotly discussed in the 1980s.
The primary idea was off-set conventional Chinese military superiority and neutralise its nuclear arsenal.
Hence, India conducted 5 nuclear tests at Pokhran over 2 days in May 1998.
While the envisioned purpose has largely been achieved presently, the road hasn’t been smooth as multiple sanctions and restrictions had to be overcome.
What followed in the immediate aftermath?
Reactions - While several global powers reacted to Pokhran-II with fury, the permanent members of the UN Security Council were divided.
The US, China, and the UK were critical of India’s nuclear tests, but Russia and France were not in favour of sanctions.
Other notable powers who joined the US in imposing sanctions were -Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, and Sweden.
Diplomacy - The skilful diplomacy of Indian delegates and the political dispensation help India tide over the hostile international climate.
Soon, the high officials of the US had come to the realisation of the inevitability of India’s nuclear pursuit (considering its neighbourhood).
Notably, India has fought wars with China and Pakistan and there were clear indications that developing nuclear deterrence was the only option for India.
India also declared that it would not be the first to use nuclear weapons – but asserted that its retaliation to a nuclear attack against it will be furious.
The implied that India’s nuclear arsenal will become active only when it has been attacked with nuclear bomb (No First Use Policy).
Normalisation - By around 2000, almost all international ties of India had normalised, which was an informal acceptance of India’s nuclear status.
Talks with the US began almost immediately after the 1998 tests, and the 2008 Indo-US nuclear deal can be called the comprehensive end of nuclear isolation.
India subsequently got the NSG waiver in September 2008, which was largely due to USA’s lobbying among NSG members.
Hence, India posses a nuclear arsenal (and hasn’t signed the NPT), but yet managed to gain entry into international civilian nuclear trade.
What is India’s current status?
India is now a member of three out of four multilateral export control regimes namely - MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group.
It has been trying hard to gain entry into the “Nuclear Supplier’s Group” (NSG), which the export control block for nuclear resources and technology.
The adherence to the non-proliferation regime (by own volition) has improved its international standing over the past two decades.
20 years after Pokhran-II, India has demonstrated moral, political and legal standing to convey to the world that it plays by the rules.
India’s stand on issues like – “Paris Climate Accord, South China Sea dispute or counter-terrorism initiatives, also project it as a responsible power.
