Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty’s Entry into Force
It is an established fact that CTBT is one of the most effective and impacting treaties of the present times. It has helped the world in changing perceptions about nuclear testing and nuclear weapons as a whole. Traditionally nuclear weapons were considered essential element of national pride and potent deterrence. Now they are becoming increasingly irrelevant while nuclear testing in particular is considered more of an offence by the civilized world. Many countries have declared moratoriums of nuclear testing following this increasingly established order. This all is attributed to and contributed by the CTBT, treaty that turned a false virtue into a real sin.
Although this wonderful treaty is said to be ‘Not in Force’ in fact it is ‘In Force’ at intellectual, moral, social and other stratums. This however by no means precludes its entry into force which will have its own affects and benefits for the future world and coming human generations. The mankind will, at first, not face the grave threat of its extinction through its own made weapons of mass devastation, destruction and annihilation. The next will come the land mark of eliminating mutual differences through dialogue and peaceful means instead of belligerent ones.
Amongst many a few major hindrances can easily be identified by an ordinary observer and student of global politics like me. These include but are not limited to the following:
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Absence of political will, towards elimination of nuclear weapon or at least towards putting a formal end to nuclear testing, amongst the leading global powers like USA and China. Signing and ratification of CTBT by the USA will definitely shorten the path towards the treaty’s entry into force.
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The geopolitical objectives of USA beside her internal political and nuclear-technical considerations are affecting her decision towards signing the treaty. The traditional US strategy of maintaining global hegemony through supremacy of its arsenals and stockpiles both nuclear and chemical is technically keeping it away from signing the binding treaties like CTBT.
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The prevailing economic and internal security conditions in many of the developing states like Pakistan and India make the internal political matrices devise age old strategies of using belligerent postures towards the rival neighboring states as an instrument of regime prolongation. Internal political expediencies and dogmatic thinking instead of external threat or security concerns are more at play in these states keeping them away from signing and ratifying the CTBT. The complexity is further increased by their mutual suspicions and interdependencies towards signing.
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The South Asian region comprising Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and Iran is repeatedly facing strategic challenges of different natures including demographic outburst, internal and external security challenges, instable economies, bad governance and conflicting regional interests. These instabilities at regional and international levels are the leading causes keeping India away from signing the CTBT apart from its China and Pakistan centric stances. It can therefore safely be concluded that signing of CTBT by India is linked to China which in turn is linked to USA. Pakistan on the other hand is abstaining due to India’s Pakistan Centric belligerent strategies and their historic rivalries.
Strategies for Overcoming the Hindrances
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Security is a complete and fullest concept that cannot be viewed in isolation. Weapon acquisition and development are the derivative concepts of security, to include both national and global. More pertinently if the world aims at eliminating weapons it must at first aim at complete abolition of war through permanent resolution of conflicts. Similarly, abolition of weapons in turn contributes towards elimination of war. It is therefore imperative and complimentary to eliminate interstate rivalries, resolve the known sources of conflicts and put in place instruments that will enhance mutual confidence, reduce apprehensions and promote peace. This is a gradual and very long term process that may be viewed as ideal by some, however is one of the effective recipes of getting the world out of nuclear testing and thereby getting the treaty enforced.
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Universalization is the key concept in globalized world. Reaching out to the peace loving people and mobilization of public opinion in favor of signing the treaty and in fact banning the testing can get the job done which otherwise may not be possible. Reaching out to the people through social media and open public debate is the best way that may help in moving the governments in response to the mass public demand.
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Assisting developing world in overcoming and resolving their interstate security concerns through direct and indirect engagements will help in reducing their defense burdens. The global community in unison and particularly those who have already signed and ratified treaty can devise new instruments of assisting the developing world in their regional problem resolutions particularly the one experienced by the traditional rivals.
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Promoting global stability through introduction of ethical strategic engagements can also help in elimination of weapons or at least weapons of mass destruction like nuclear. This can be done by promoting and exacting the UN Charter in more effective manner through dialogue, negotiations and direct engagements. The virtues of sovereignty, equality and respect in the comity of nations will promote confidence and in the long run peace and prosperity. The prevalence of peace will preclude the need for weapons and in turn the need for testing, in particular nuclear testing.
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Promotion of concepts like soft power or the cold power in the face of what may be called as hard power will also help in reduction of arsenals and thereby a need for nuclear weapon development and nuclear stockpile.
Technomina 