NEW DELHI – New proliferation risks and challenges can lead to “unintendedescalations”, increasing the likelihood of a nuclear strike, former primeminister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday, asserting that India is a”reluctant” nuclear weapon state.
Speaking at the book launch of Observer Research Foundation’s ‘NuclearOrder in the Twenty First Century’ authored by former diplomat Rakesh Sood,Singh said the existing nuclear global order is coming under strain withsome of the old arms control agreements being consigned to history, PTI hasreported.
Noting that nuclear science and technology have matured over the last 70years, the senior Congress leader said it is now easier to access andacquire them, generating new proliferation risks and challenges.
Developments in artificial intelligence, growing space, and cybervulnerabilities, have given rise to more uncertainties, he added.
“Many leaders are concerned that these lead to greater unpredictability andcompress the time lines for decision making. It can lead to unintendedescalation, increasing the likelihood of a nuclear strike, something theworld has not seen since 1945,” said the former prime minister.
Asserting that multipolarity has become a reality in the global economy butthe political structures have yet to overcome the inertia of outmodedthinking, he said, “Many countries are modernising their nuclear arsenalswith tactical and low yield weapons, and increasing the likelihood of theiruse. The goal of nuclear disarmament seems to be receding.”
The Congress leader informed that nuclear deterrence theories, developed toaddress the US-USSR Cold War rivalry, are being redefined by strategicthinkers in a world grappling with the threats of rising nationalism,extremism and terrorism.
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Calling India a “sui generis” nuclear weapon state, he said it is “areluctant nuclear weapon state, unlike others that began their nuclearquest with a military rationale”.
“India is the only country that had an extensive and advanced peacefulnuclear programme before we were compelled to shift in response to securitythreats and the only one that exercised nearly a quarter century ofrestraint after having demonstrated its technical capability.This is why wedecided to base our nuclear doctrine on a credible, minimum deterrent andsuccessive governments have also reiterated India’s commitment to ano-first-use policy,” Singh said.
He added that country’s doctrinal approach has accordingly reflected adegree of continuity and the special waiver given to India by the NuclearSuppliers Group in 2008 is a clear acknowledgement of “our impeccablenon-proliferation credentials and our responsible posture”.
The former prime minister referred to today’s nuclear age “as an age ofasymmetry, asymmetry in terms of doctrines, arsenals and technology” andsaid that it has to be ensured that the nuclear taboo that has preventedits use since 1945 continues to be preserved.
