NPT at 40

The world recently observed the 40th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Though designed to contain the spread of nuclear weapons the treaty has largely failed in this respect due to its inherently discriminatory nature, which allows some states to maintain nuclear arsenals while preventing others from acquiring the same.

Some have pointed out that the world may have become an even more dangerous place since the NPT came into effect.

According to estimates the ‘big five’ NPT members the US, UK, China, Russia and France possess between them 5,000 to 6,000 strategic nuclear warheads.

Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea all four non-NPT states have between them, it is estimated, some 200 warheads. One shudders to think what would happen if even a minuscule percentage of this devastating weaponry were to be used.

The NPT’s 40th anniversary is a timely call for all states, members as well as non-members, to come together to plan a strategy to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons from the world.

The ‘big five’ must take the lead as they possess the bulk of the world’s nuclear arms. President Obama mentioned his desire for a nuclear-free world in Prague last year.

It is time the US and the other four nuclear powers took practical steps to significantly reduce and phase out their arsenals.

Perhaps South Africa’s example can be followed as that country unilaterally dismantled its nuclear weapons programme in the dying days of Apartheid.

Pakistan and India should also reduce their nuclear stockpiles and work towards bringing down temperatures in the region.

The large amounts spent on maintaining nukes can surely be better spent on the welfare of the subcontinent’s poor, hungry and illiterate.

And while North Korea and Iran remain areas of concern, the international community should concentrate on making Israel respect international obligations.

While Israel neither confirms nor denies it, it is an open secret that it possesses nuclear arms.

Hounding some states while overlooking the nuclear transgressions of others does not help the cause of universal non-proliferation and, in fact, gives the impression that some countries are more equal than others in this respect.

Dawn.com