Pokhran II

Pokhran- II

Pokhran II, codenamed Operation Shakti, refers to the testing of five nuclear weapons at Pokhran, Rajasthan in 1998. The Indian nuclear weapons program was started in the year 1964, following the Indo- China war of 1962. The war, as well as the Chinese Nuclear test in 1964, exacerbated India’s need for a strong military and a comprehensive capability to deter enemy forces. In 1974, India tested its first nuclear device at Pokhran. However it decided to stop testing as a temporary measure due to fear of international criticism. In 1995, Narasimha Rao decided to carry out further tests, but American pressure stopped preparations. Nuclear tests were finally carried out under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Preparations were done under a blanket of secrecy so as to deceive foreign intelligence agencies.

The tests were received with jubilation and approval in India. Doubts about India’s nuclear capabilities after 1974 were also removed. The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1172 condemning the test. The U.S issued a statement condemning India and promised that sanctions would follow. China also condemned the nuclear tests and called upon the international community to exert pressure on India to sign the NPT and eliminate its nuclear arsenal. The most vehement reaction was from Pakistan which proceeded to test its own nuclear weapons only 15 days later, after blaming India for instigating an arms race. Pakistan’s nuclear tests were also treated with similar condemnation from the international community. A number of states imposed severe and comprehensive economic and technology related sanctions in response to Pokhran II. Over a period of time, these sanctions proved to have exerted only marginal effects on India’s economy and technological progress, and most of the sanctions were lifted within five years of their enactment.