"...The Indian nuclear deal would be a non-proliferation disaster, especially now. The NPT is in jeopardy and diplomatic efforts to address the nuclear programmes of North Korea and Iran are at a delicate stage," Jayantha Dhanapala, former UN Undersecretary General for Disarmament Affairs, and Daryl G Kimball, Executive Director of the Arms Control Association said yesterday.
"For those world leaders who are serious about ending the arms race, holding all states to their international commitments, and strengthening the NPT, it is time to stand up and be counted," they said in a "proliferation analysis" published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
The two non-proliferation specialists claimed that "contrary to the claims of its advocates, the deal fails to bring India further into conformity with the non-proliferation behaviour expected of the member states of the nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).
"Unlike 178 other countries, India has not signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). It continues to produce fissile material and expand its arsenal" Kimball and Dhanapala said.