Civil Nuclear Energy Programs and the Nonproliferation Paradox in South Asia

Abstract

Civilian nuclear energy programs in India and Pakistan benefited from international cooperation until India’s 1974 nuclear test that led to the genesis of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and nonproliferation efforts led by the United States. While Pakistan’s civilian nuclear energy program (under IAEA safeguards) was slowed down under the impact of nonproliferation sanctions between 1974-1989, India was able to secure an exceptional waiver from the NSG in 2008 and much of its dual-use civilian nuclear energy program remains outside safeguards. This has led to an exponential increase in India’s latent nuclear capabilities, primarily due to the selective application of nonproliferation norms by the nuclear supplier states.