A NUCLEAR SOUTH ASIA
ne of the most significant developments in nuclear weapons proliferation after the Cold War took place in May 1998. From May l l to 13, India conducted five nuclear tests, and Pakistan followed suit with six tests between May 28 and 30. India had tested a nuclear device in sions in Pakistan was thought to have nuclear weapons by 1992. these tests heightened ten South Asia and increased awareness of the dangers of nuclear proliferation International condemnation was swift, countries such as the United States, Japan, Australia Canada sanctions as and Pakistan. The sanctions hurt both economies (especially on India showed any indication of renouncing its nuclear Pakistan's), but neither country nuclear prog Although both countries were accused of violating international norms on argued testing and damaging non-proliferation regime, Indian and Pakistani officials that the possess such accusations were hypocritical. After a they argued, most of their accusers Pakistan nuclear weapons or benefit from the security provided by them. Did not India and have the same right as sovereign st to respond to their own security requirements? As we indicated in Chapter 3, the relevance of nuclear det did not end with the Cold War. Nuclear deterrence is alive and well in South Asia, with concerns that two countries that have fought three wars might fight a fourth war with nuclear weapons. These concerns were exacerbated by the development of ballistic missiles by both countries. However, the nuclear tests might have imposed the same threat of mutual annihilation on India and Pakistan that existed between the superpowers during the Cold War. Indeed, on February 20, 2000, the leaders of India and Pakistan inaugurated the first bus service between the two countries in