Nuclear Weapons

1. India Nuclear Policy
2. Indian Nuclear Energy Program
3. Pakistan Nuclear Policy

Nuclear Weapons

Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes said that despite the economic problems created by sanctions, India would not give up its nuclear program. He said, "We are surrounded by nuclear powers. These powers are possessing missiles and other weapons of mass destruction."
"India will not give up N-plan, says Fernandes"

US Republican candidate for president, George W Bush, has indicated that if elected, he will lift sanctions against India and will not press India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Bush supports testing of nuclear weapons as a means of ensuring their safety.
"Bush against sanctions, won't press India on CTBT"

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said India could do much to promote relations with the Association of Southeast Asia Nations and the ASEAN Regional Forum, including the promotion of global nuclear disarmament, nuclear nonproliferation, and an early decision to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
"Malaysia stresses scope for ASEAN-India ties"

An article in The Hindu said Russian intentions behind the Memorandum of Understanding signed with India on atomic energy include sending a message to other nuclear weapons states regarding the futility of their blockade of India or any other aspiring nuclear power.
"Indo-Russian nuclear cooperation"

Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan would use its nuclear weapons against India if Pakistan's security was jeopardized. Musharraf also said there is a national command structure in place and Pakistan's nuclear weapons were therefore "very secure." Qadeer Khan, architect of Pakistan's nuclear program, said the nuclear weapons were secure because Musharraf put into place the National Command Authority and the Strategic Force Command.
"Nuclear attack against India an option: Musharraf"
"Nuclear arsenal secure, says Dr Qadeer"

India

John Cherian writes for Frontline Magazine that four defense deals were the highlight of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India. Cherian argues that the defense deals, reportedly worth between $5 billion and $7 billion, are a force multiplier for India and an injection of hard currency into the economy for Russia. Frontline Magazine carried additional commentary on the visit.
"The defence deals"
"A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP"

C Raja Mohan argues that Indian policy toward Pakistan cannot be based on anticipation of Pakistan's imminent collapse because it is the threat of collapse that leaves Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf as the source of stability in Pakistan and gives Pakistan leverage over the international community. Mohan argues in favor of containing Pakistan, which includes pressure for change internal to Pakistan as well as engaging Pakistan diplomatically.
"Containing Pakistan?"

The Times of India reported that the NDA government, which came to power after the Kargil incident, gave a significant boost to defense spending and acquisitions.
"`Kargil war pushed up the defence budget'"

An Indian Air Force MiG-21 crashed in the Bikaneer district of Rajasthan, killing the pilot and a woman on the ground. Several days later, two MiG-21 jets on a training flight collided in Assam, killing one of the pilots. New pilots are trained on super-sonic MiG-21s because the Indian Air Force lacks Advance Jet Trainers, which take-off and land and half as fast as the MiG-21.
"Mig 21 crashes, pilot and a girl killed"
"MiGs' mid-air collision kills pilot"

The Indian Army reported that it has developed indigenous capabilities for repairing defective Russian missiles and overhauling major weapons platforms despite the absence of the requested technology transfer from Russia.
"Army engineers repair defective Russian missiles"

The US has not lifted sanctions imposed on India after the nuclear tests, and as a result, two-thirds of India's anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters, which use US-made parts, are non-operational. Additionally, delivery of the British advanced jet trainers (AJT) is delayed partly because India is seeking alternative sources for the US-made parts used in the AJT.
"Bonhomie fine, but US won't give chopper parts"

A senior Ministry of External Affairs official said that the PRC was a problem for India, not because of the disputed border, but because of the PRC's sale of missiles and nuclear materials to Pakistan. The official said that if the PRC could be convinced to be neutral, Pakistan would be more reasonable with India.
"Chinese checkers is prime occupation"

A report prepared by the US Congressional Research Service stated that a goal of the PRC's military modernization is to subdue Indian power.
"China wants to subdue India's power: U.S. report"

Pakistan

Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf reiterated that the military would not stay in power beyond the October 2002 deadline set by the Pakistan Supreme Court.
"I won't stay in power beyond SC deadline: Musharraf"

The media reported on the one-year anniversary of the military coup in which Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf came to power. The Times of India reported statements by analysts, who said that conditions in Pakistan had not improved in the last year and that Musharraf was not likely to keep his promise to give up power in 2002.
"Pakistan's future bleak under Musharraf"
"Few believe Musharraf will honour promise: Analysts"

Kashmir

Indian Home Minister LK Advani said he thought the Hizbul Mujahideen would not renew its ceasefire offer "unless Pakistan acquiesces, because the Hizbul and all the militant groups ultimately take their instructions from Islamabad." Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, however, is confidant that talks with the Hizbul will resume soon.
"Hizb not likely to renew ceasefire offer: Advani"
"Farooq confident of talks with militants"

US Representative Benjamin Gilman, chairman of the House International Relations Committee, urged the US State Department coordinator for counter-terrorism Michael A Sheehan to declare the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba a terrorist group.
"US urged to brand Lashkar a terrorist outfit"

The Dawn quoted official sources as saying that India-Pakistan relations remained tense. The sources also said India had squandered an opportunity with the Hizbul Mujahideen ceasefire and had not reciprocated Pakistani offers to hold talks.
"Ties with India tense"

Pakistan Chief Executive Pervez Musharraf, speaking at the Pakistan Oil and Gas Conference 2000, said that India and Pakistan need to cooperate on oil and gas because India needed the proposed pipeline from Iran that would run through Pakistan.
"Pak. for ties with India in oil sector"

KK Katyal argues in The Hindu that communal violence in Jammu and Kashmir threatens to develop into a full war, in parallel with the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict, that the region cannot afford.
"The two wars in Jammu"

Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) officials were critical of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's offer to bring together state legislators to discuss the border fencing. The BSF would prefer to keep information on the fence secret from Pakistan and militant forces, while the legislators see the fence as redundant and a further restriction on the local population.
"Keep border fence plan secret: BSF"

An article in Frontline Magazine by Praveen Swami highlights the communalistic divisions revealed by the conflict over census operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The game of numbers"

Jammu and Kashmir State Home Minister Mustaq Ahmad Lone said 18,582 families have been displaced by firing and shelling across the Line of Control since May, 1999. He said 11,044 families, or 43,510 individuals, continue to be displaced from their home villages in Jammu and Kashmir.
"18,000 J&K families displaced due to border firing"

The links below provide coverage of incidents of violence that occurred in the past week in Jammu and Kashmir.
"3 Lashkar militants among 5 killed in Kashmir"
"Five arrested, arms seized in Bihar village"
"11 killed in J&K violence"
"15 killed in Kashmir violence"
"Three abducted cops shot dead in J&K"
"3 of family killed in J&K militant attacks"
"RJD MP's hand suspected"
"16 militants killed in J&K"
"17 killed in Kashmir clashes"
"2 killed, 7 injured in militant attacks"
"Two killed in Indian firing"
"3 Pak infiltrators among 11 killed in J&K"
"28 militants among 34 killed in J&K"
"23 ultras, four armymen killed in J&K"

Atul Aneja suggests in The Hindu that if the Taliban sweeps Afghanistan, they are more likely to focus on entrenching their power domestically than on spreading revolution to Central Asia in the name of pan-Islamic extremism or providing support to militants in Kashmir.
"India debating security implications"

The joint statement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister AB Vajpayee called for stronger sanctions against the Taliban, highlighting the importance of the situation for regional stability.
"India, Russia wary of Taliban"

Sri Lanka

The ruling People's Alliance (PA), which won 107 of 225 seats in the October 11 parliamentary elections, has been asked by Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga to form a government. The opposition United National Party won 89 seats. The PA is attempting to form a government with the support of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (four seats), the National Unitary Alliance (three seats), and an independent, to bring the coalition to 115 seats. The moderate Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) demonstrated a comeback, winning about one-third of the votes cast in Jaffna and allowing it to claim three of the nine parliamentary seats.
"Sri Lanka's new government"
"Kumaratunga's party likely to form government"
"People's Alliance to form govt in Lanka"
"TULF proves it has base in peninsula"

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was sworn in for a second term. Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga delayed swearing in her other cabinet officials to accommodate various members of the coalition with ministerial appointments.
"Wickramanayaka sworn in as Lankan PM"
"Lanka Cabinet swearing-in put off to Wednesday"
"Chandrika forms govt with minority support"

The opposition United National Party threatened to seek to nullify the election because they said violence marred the election. European Union and other election monitors singled out the central province as having been affected by voting irregularities.
"Lankan coalition faces revolt"

Commentary on the recent elections in Sri Lanka said that President Chandrika Kumaratunga will have difficulty pushing her devolution proposals through the parliament because of the narrow majority she will have once a ruling coalition is formed. Prior to the election, Kumaratunga said she would revert to constitutional reform to solve the crisis while not letting up militarily against the LTTE, but her weak mandate may force her to find other ways to try to solve the war with the LTTE.
"Fractured Island"
"Challenge of a fractured mandate"
"Splinter Mandate"
"Lanka's indecisive polls may slow peace bid"
"Tough time ahead for Chandrika"

Former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world's first female prime minister and mother of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, died shortly after the election.
"World's first woman PM dies"
"Bandarnaike given state funeral in Sri Lanka"
"Former Sri Lankan Prime Minister Bandaranaike passes away"

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