The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: Assessing the Historical and Future Prospects in the South Asian Context
Abstract
Catastrophic effects of nuclear bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan compelled theinternational community to take measures in order to avoid radioactive fallouts of nuclear weapons
and this gave impetus to the debate of nuclear disarmament. However, major powers remained
reluctant to relinquish their supremacy attained through such technological advancements. As part of
these efforts, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was finally concluded and became open for
signatures in1996. CTBT is widely considered as one of the key arrangements of nuclear nonproliferation
eventually leading to achieve the international objective of nuclear disarmament.
However, owing to strategic calculations some major States have either not signed or not ratified the
treaty. Unless the treaty is signed/ratified by the major hold out States, legally, it cannot come into
force. Considering past and present trends, CTBT is likely to face the challenge of brining hold out
States in its ambit. Thus, chances of CTBT coming into force seem dim in calculable future.
References
CTBTO Verification Regime, “Monitoring technologies how they workâ€, CTBTO official Website, https://www.ctbto.org/verification-regime [Accessed 4 July, 2018].
CTBTO Official Website, “1945-54: Early efforts to restrain Nuclear testingâ€, https://www.ctbto.org/the-treaty/history-1945-1993/1945-54-early-efforts-to-restrain-nuclear-testing/. [Accessed 30 June, 2018].
CTBTO Official Website, “History Summaryâ€, https://www.ctbto.org/the-treaty/history-summary [Accessed 5 July, 2018].
CTBTO Official Website, “Status of Signature and Ratificationâ€, https://www.ctbto.org/the-treaty/status-of-signature-and-ratification [Accessed 3 July, 2018].
CTBTO Official Website, “Treaty Textâ€, https://www.ctbto.org/the-treaty/treaty-text [Accessed 27 August, 2018].
Chinese Foreign Ministry‟s Official Website, “China's position on CTBT,â€http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cgvienna/eng/dbtyw/cjyjk/CTBT/t127376.htm [Accessed 29 August, 2018].
S. Pifer, “What‟s the deal with Senate Republicans and the test ban treaty?â€, https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2016/09/ 26/whats-the-deal-with-senate-republicans-and-the-test-ban-treaty [Accessed 29 August, 2018].
“North Korea will join 'efforts for a total ban on nuclear testsâ€, Reuters, 15 May, 2018,https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-nuclear-tests/north-korea-will-join-efforts-for-a-total-ban-on-nuclear-tests-idUSKCN1IG28E [Accessed 27 August, 2018].
A. Ghose, “Negotiating The CTBT: India‟s Security Concerns and Nuclear Disarmamentâ€, J. Int. Affairs, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 239-261, 1997, https://www.jstor.org/stable/24357482.
Address by the PM special envoy Shayam Saran at Brookings Institute, “Indo-US Nuclear Deal; Expectations and Consequencesâ€, 23 March, 2009, https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/ 2012/04/20090323_india.pdf also see, “India links CTBT with Disarmamentâ€, Hindustan Times, 30 March, 2009, https://www. hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/india-links-ctbt-with-disarmament/ story-0zK2EWKA6OXud1N8Y9L2MP.html [22 July 2018].
C. Paddock, “Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: Where Does India Stand?â€, New Delhi: Epitome Books, pp. 1-5, September 1, 2010.
PM Vajpaee address at UNGA, “Press Release on India's position on Nuclear Issues/CTBTâ€, Embassy of India, USA, October 14, 1999, https://www.indianembassy.org/archives_details.php?nid=248.[Accessed 11 July, 2018]
C. Rauch, “Hushed Hope- India, the Nuclear Deal and Nonproliferationâ€, PRIF Working Paper, No. 7, December 2010, pp. 10-11, https://www.nonproliferation.eu/web/documents/other/ carstenrauchandhushedhope4ea15de902194.pdf. [Accessed 26 July, 2018].
“U.S. and India Release Text of 123 Agreementâ€, Media Note, Office of the Spokesman Washington DC, US Department of State Archive, August 3, 2007,https://20012009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/ aug/90050.htm. [Accessed 6 August, 2018].
“PM's statement in the Lok Sabha on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation with the United Statesâ€, Embassy of India, U.S., Embassy Archives,13 August 2007,https://www.indianembassy.org/ archives_details.php?nid=863. [Accessed 9 August, 2018].
B. Gopalaswamy, “India and the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty: to sign or not to sign?â€, SIPRI Policy Brief, January 2010, https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRIPB1001.pdf. [Accessed 24 July, 2018].
A. Ghose, “CTBT Reduxâ€, IPCS, 30th March, 2009,http:// scotomastudio.com/ctbt-redux/. [Accessed 4 August 2018].
G. Kampani, “CTBT Endgame in South Asia‟, Center for Nonproliferation Studies Research Associate, Monterey Institute of International Studies, January 2000,http://www.bu.edu/globalbeat/ southasia/Kampani0100.html [Accessed 2 August 2018].
“18 May 1974 – Smiling Buddhaâ€, CTBT Organization, https:// www.ctbto.org/specials/testing-times/18-may-1974-smiling-buddah/ [Accessed 9 August 2018].
M.V. Mathai, “Nuclear Power, Economic Development Discourse and the Environment: The Case of India, London and New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, pp. 192, 2013.
Statement by Indian Minister Manmohan Singh “Hope Obama Understands India‟s Special Statusâ€, Hindustan Times, 12 June, 2009,www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?SectionName=HomePage&ID= [Accessed 24 July, 2018].
Adrian Levy, “India Is Building a Top-Secret Nuclear City to Produce Thermonuclear Weapons, Experts Sayâ€, Foreign Policy, 16 December, 2015, https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/12/16/india_nuclear _city_top_secret_china_pakistan_barc/.
