Nuclear Issues

1. Indian Anti-Nuclear Convention
2. India Nuclear Policy
3. Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Nuclear Issues

An anti-nuclear convention took place in New Delhi, with participation by approximately 500 delegates, including fifty from Pakistan. The convention is being sponsored by 110 trade unions and NGOs.
"'India, Pakistan gained nothing from N-tests'"
"Intellectuals condemn nuclear tests"
"Anti-Nuke convention draws Pak activists"

K Subrahmanyam, convener of India's National Security Advisory Board, said that India should have about 150 missile- and bomber-deliverable nuclear weapons in order to have an effective deterrent force against Pakistan and the PRC.
"'India should have 150 nuclear warheads'"

US President Bill Clinton, in a letter to the US Speaker of the House of Representative Dennis Hastert, wrote that India-US relations are unable meet their full potential without further progress on non-proliferation and other regional issues.
"Clinton warns India on proliferation"
"Clinton warns India over nuclear issue"

Indian police seized three uranium rods and arrested six people who said they acquired the uranium at an auction of materials left over from the dismantling of a hospital ward.
"Three uranium rods seized, eight persons held"

B Muralidhar Reddy, writing in The Hindu, reported that Pakistan is getting closer to signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Reddy stated that various Pakistani government ministries have made statements supporting the treaty. The most recent of which was by State Bank of Pakistan Governor Ishrat Hussain, who said Pakistan was losing $2 billion annually in financial assistance. Reddy argued that the Musharraf government was wary of antagonizing religious groups on this issue.
"Pak. on the verge of signing CTBT?"

India

An Indian delegation, led by Vijay Gokhale of the External Affairs Ministry, is visiting the PRC for talks to eventually demarcate the Line of Actual Control separating India and the PRC. A senior PRC foreign ministry official has said that the PRC is ready to accelerate negotiations, "as long as both sides follow the principle of mutual understanding and mutual accommodation." The disputed border is divided into an eastern, a middle, and a western sector. The middle sector involves some 20,000 square kilometers and is likely to be discussed first.
"India, China hold border parley"
"China for Speedy Resolution of Border Dispute with India"
"China for speedy resolution"
"Sino-Indian talks next week"

VR Raghavan, writing in The Hindu, argues that the current border problems along the undemarcated Line of Actual Control shared with the PRC, in which PRC patrols and civilians visit the border and on occasion cross, is a tactic the PRC uses to later justify a claim upon the territory.
"Defining India's China border"

Minister of State for Commerce Omar Abdullah met with a PRC delegation to discuss the progress of the PRC's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and to discuss arrangements that would temper WTO rules to suit the two countries.
"Chinese team meets Omar Abdullah"

Speaking in Singapore, Indian President KR Narayanan thanked Singapore for supporting India for membership in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and as a full dialogue member of ASEAN. The Hindu reported that Narayanan described a recent Indian focus on reengaging Southeast Asia.
"India ready to face challenges of terror: President"
"`India key player in Asian strategic landscape'"
"India focus on 'Look East' policy"
"India may be invited to ASEAN summit: Singapore"

External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh held bilateral talks in Vietnam with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Dy Nien to strengthen ties. Nguyen Dy Nien expressed support for Indian membership in both the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group and the UN Security Council. Vietnamese annual trade with India totals $115 million, compared to $2 billion with the PRC, and is balanced largely in India's favor.
"India, Vietnam seek to reinvigorate old ties"
"Vietnam backs India for APEC membership"

External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh addressed the inaugural meeting of the ministerial meeting of the Ganga-Mekong cooperation group, and pledged India's commitment to working with ASEAN on Mekong Basin development programs.
"India to work with ASEAN to develop Mekong basin"

Secretary General of the Turkish National Security Council, General Cumhar Asparuk, met with Satish Chandra, head of the Indian National Security Council, to expand India-Turkey ties. Turkey has been a close ally of Pakistan, but India-Pakistan ties are spread partly by concern over the spread of fundamentalism.
"India, Turkey seek closer security links"
"India, Turkey to deepen security ties"

France's Pearle nuclear submarine arrived in India ahead of the February International Fleet Review for two days of exercises with the Indian Navy. France hopes India will build its Scorpene submarines in India, while Russia hopes India will build the Russian Amur-class submarine.
"France N-sub here ahead of joint exercise"

The Indian Defense Ministry is reconsidering its development program for the indigenous Arjun main battle tank. The Arjun has been effectively replaced by acquisition of the Russian T-90 tank.
"26 yrs later, Arjun still can't shoot straight"

Pakistan

The Times of India reported that Pakistan, hoping to break into the international arms export market, will host a four-day arms exhibition entitled "Ideas 2000 Pakistan Arms for Peace." Representatives from 37 countries, including the PRC, Russia, France, and Saudi Arabia, will participate. Pakistan will launch at the convention its Super Mashak aircraft, the Grifo-7 radar and fire control system, as well as tanks and other hardware.
"Few takers for Pakistan's "arms for peace""
"High-profile Pak. arms show opens today"
"New plane, radar system to be displayed"

Air Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir has been named Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan's Air Staff, causing resentment within the Pakistani Air Force because five senior officers are being skipped-over.
"New Pak. Air chief supercedes 5 seniors"
"New chief causes heartburn in Pakistan Air Force"

Ahmed Shah Massod, the Afghani commander fighting the Taliban in northern Afghanistan, said in an interview in the New York Times that the Taliban has made open use of Pakistani regular troops. The New York Times also stated that the Taliban control 90%-95% of Afghanistan. US Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering stated that both the US and Russia are aware of the Pakistani military's involvement in Afghanistan.
"Pakistan troops fighting alongside Taliban: Masood"
"US rejects Pak denial on aiding Taliban"

After 30,000 Afghan refugees came into Pakistan in the last month, bringing the total number of Afghan refugees to 1.8-2.1 million persons, Pakistan was reported by the Indian media as closing the border with Afghanistan to refugees. A long drought and continued fighting have driven the refugees into Pakistan, which says it us unable to provide assistance in its own deteriorated economic state.
"Pakistan shuts its borders to Afghan refugees"
"Pak. shuts the door to Afghan refugees"
"Pakistan closes border to Afghan refugees"

Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef asked Pakistan to reopen the border and sought economic assistance for the refugees from the UN. Pakistan has asked the UN to assist with the peaceful return to Afghanistan of the refugees.
"Taliban wants Pakistan to open borders for refugees"
"Ban on Afghan DPs explained"
"Pakistan seeks peaceful return of Afghan refugees"

Kashmir

Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes stated that an additional buildup of Pakistani troops had been noticed near Kutch along the Line of Control. He said Pakistan had a single unit there.
"Pak build-up near Kutch border: Fernandes"

The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) met in Doha. The OIC called on the Muslim world to act decisively against Israel and Pakistan attempted to draw attention to an "India-Israel axis." An OIC contact group, including Pakistan, Turkey, Niger and Saudi Arabia, met to discuss the situation in Kashmir and urged peaceful settlement.
"OIC to focus on Kashmir issue"
"Pak. to raise 'Indo-Israeli nexus' at OIC meet"
"Islamic nations for decisive steps against Israel"

Molvi Omer Farooq and Maulana Abbas Ansari, both senior All-Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders, met with representatives of Islamic states and pushed for peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue. Other Hurriyat leaders met with officials of the Pakistan High Commission in Islamabad because of recent criticisms by the APHC of Pakistan.
"Hurriyat leaders seek support for solving Kashmir issue early"
"Hurriyat leaders meet Pak officials on Kashmir issue"

The links below provide coverage of incidents of violence that occurred in the past week in Jammu and Kashmir.
"NC leader escapes bid on life, 23 killed in J&K"
"8 militants among 9 killed in Kashmir"
"One injured in Pak shelling"
"Ammunition, explosives seized in J&K"
"Five held for attack on Amarnath pilgrims' camp"
"Two militants among seven killed in Kashmir"
"4 Armymen, 5 militants killed in J&K encounters"
"Damage to property in Pak shelling"
"7 Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir"
"3 children killed in Indian shelling"
"7 killed in Kashmir violence"
" Kashmir leader held as 18 more killed"
"15 killed in Valley gunbattles"
"Two killed in LoC firing"
"7 die in H. Kashmir state"

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga opened the Parliament on Thursday and stated that while military actions against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) would not end, she was ready for talks. Kumaratunga said that Norwegian negotiators had yet to inform her of "certain conditions to be met before the beginning of discussions."
"Chandrika may decide on LTTE offer today"
"Kumaratunga ready for talks with Tigers"

United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickramasinghe expressed disapproval of President Chandrika Kumaratunga's decision to include those possibly responsible for election violence in her cabinet. Wickramasinghe also called on Kumaratunga to discuss constitutional reform proposals before opening talks with the LTTE.
" Lanka Oppn wants more talks on reform proposals"
"Parties take positions on talks with LTTE"

Sri Lankan Army chief Major General Lionel Ballagalle stated that while the government is waiting to hear LTTE conditions for talks from the Norwegian diplomats, there should not be a ceasefire during the negotiations.
"No cease-fire, says Sri Lankan Army chief"

Produced by the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainable Development in partnership with the Monash Asia Institute.

Robert Brown, SANDNet Coordinator: SANDNet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States

Wade L. Huntley, Security Program Director: SANDNet@nautilus.org
Berkeley, California, United States