CTBT ratification: UN day against nuclear tests today

LAHORE:

The International Day against Nuclear Tests will be observed on Tuesday (today).

The day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on December 2, 2009. Out of 2,000 nuclear tests, 1,032 tests were conducted by the US.

Renowned physicist and a member of the International Panel on Fissile Materials Dr Abdul Hameed Nayyar said Pakistan has made it clear that it will sign the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) only when India signs it.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Dr Nayyar said that although the US has signed the CTBT, it has not yet ratified it, adding that this was the biggest hurdle in achieving a complete ban. He added that as soon as the US ratifies the treaty, India will most likely immediately conduct nuclear tests despite the possibility of heavy sanctions.

Chairperson of the Institute of Peace and Secular Studies Saeeda Diep says that in wake of the increasing trend of religious extremism, the state is losing its writ over extremists, which establishes an urgent need to address the nuclear disarmament issue.

“In Pakistan, the context of this day is even more significant. Civil society should pressurise the government to take appropriate action” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th,  2011.