*NEW DELHi – *India is capable of conducting a nuclear test at shortnotice, defence research chief Dr S Christopher has told NDTV. Thisassertion from one of the country’s top scientists comes 20 years afterIndia successfully tested its nuclear capability in Pokhran.
Dr Christopher sought to dispel any notion that India’s nuclear technologywas stuck at the 1998 level when five bombs were successfully tested.
“Technology-wise, we are continuously growing; there is no doubt about it.You cannot stagnate in that position. I am honest to say that the growth isso tremendous we are almost on par with many other countries,” DrChristopher said in an exclusive interview.
These remarks by the chairman of the Defence Research and DevelopmentOrganisation (DRDO) are an expression of the country’s technologicalreadiness. The final call to go ahead with a nuclear test is a politicaldecision taken by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Committee on Security.
India had imposed a unilateral moratorium after the 1998 nuclear tests andcontinues to abide by it. According to the nuclear doctrine, there will beno-first-use of atomic weapons by India but in case an adversary strikeswith atomic weapons, New Delhi will exercise the right to give an answerwith a ‘punishing second strike’.
In 1998, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had given DRDO, which washeaded by APJ Abdul Kalam, 40 days to undertake the nuclear test.
Asked if the DRDO could replicate that feat within the same timeline, DrChristopher said “we are ready”, adding that no field tests were needed dueto available advanced technologies that can recreate a real timeenvironment.
“Everything in research and development you cannot test — like, forinstance, a mission to the moon. There are a lot of simulations that arepossible today to say what exactly will happen,” claimed Dr Christopher.
On May 11 and 13, 1998 India had tested five nuclear weapons, including ahydrogen bomb. Two weeks later, Pakistan had responded with a set of fivetests at its Chagai nuclear site.