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The K C Pant Chat

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:2 IST)
Hello everybody. I am here. You can ask your questions now.

K G Mohandas (Thu May 14 1998 7:59 IST)
Good evening, Mr Pant. It is an honour to speak with one of the few men of dignity and honour in Indian politics. Sir, what were the compulsions to conduct these series of tests at this point of time?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:5 IST)
Mohandas: Mainly two factors. One, the exemplary restraint which India had demonstrated after the 1974 nuclear explosion was not fully appreciated. And the attempts to move towards universal non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament didn't succeed. The atmosphere around this region in terms of nuclear weapons and missiles has deteriorated. As such, it became necessary for the security of the country that these tests be held.

Pawan (Thu May 14 1998 7:59 IST)
Mr. Pant, Congrats for the test. I would like to know how India is geared to take on international pressure?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:9 IST)
Pawan: Thank You. The real strength of the country lies in the people. These tests have evoked spontaneous and almost universal support amongst the people. As such it should be possible to face any temporary problems that may arise, because of sanctions etc. In the ultimate analysis I feel that the world, in particular the nuclear weapon countries, are left with any choice except to acknowledge that India is now a nuclear weapons capable power.

Manohar Shyam (Thu May 14 1998 8:1 IST)
Namashkar, Pantji. In Shri Atal Bihari's letter to Mr Clinton, he speaks of the Chinese threat as the reason for India's nuclear test. For 35 years we have kept mum about China. This is the first time an Indian leader is discussing this issue. As someone informed about defence issues, don't you think this will be a major setback to Sino-Indo relations? Can we afford it, Sir?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:13 IST)
Manohar Shyam: I think it is important to distinguish between the capabilities that a country is building up and its present intentions. The PM, as far as I remember, has referred to attempts being made to improve Sino-Indian relations. That is at one level. At another level, it is necessary to keep in mind any imbalance in capabilities being created between India and its neighbours, particularly in view of the history and the help China is giving Pakistan in the area of nuclear and missile technology etc.

Gussa Kumaoni (Thu May 14 1998 8:2 IST)
Shri Pant: How do you think these sanctions will affect us? On Rediff, the well-known astrologer K N Rao had forecast a financial emergency in July. I fear the sanctions will create that. Do you agree?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:18 IST)
Gussa Kumaoni: Sanctions will create some difficulties, but one cannot say that these were unexpected. In fact, many western countries have expressed themselves against sanctions being imposed on India because of these tests.

I hope that these countries will be able to persuade the US and others who have imposed sanctions that what is done cannot be undone now, and that the most pragmatic course is to recognise that India has become a nuclear weapons state. In the past also, in 1974, some sanctions were imposed but we managed. I am sure that with the support of the people the situation will again be managed effectively.

Pawan (Thu May 14 1998 8:4 IST)
Mr Pant, has the tests increased our chances of getting permanent seat in the UN security council ?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:24 IST)
Pawan: Power is an important factor in international relations. To that extent India becoming a nuclear weapons capable state enhances its leverage in international affairs. But basically I think India only has a case for becoming a permanent member of the UN security council rests its size, its population, the fact that it has functioned actively and effectively in the UN and has contributed repeatedly to the peace-keeping efforts of the UN. These credentials should be enough.

Akshay (Thu May 14 1998 8:13 IST)
Mr Pant: Millions of Indians are dying of hunger. More than 40 per cent of the population are below the poverty line? Do you think our country needs to go nuclear inspite of being such a poor country?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:29 IST)
Akshay: it is important to recognise that there should be adequate development and proper distribution of the fruits of the development to tackle the problems of poverty. But this is only possible if the country has the assurance that it is safe and secure and can protect its borders, its sovereignty and its core values.

Defence and security are necessary so that the energies of the people and the administration can be devoted to the basic task of removing poverty. It is in this light that one has to balance the needs of development against the needs of defence. Finally, one should not loose sight of the spin off effect of defence spending in furthering science technology and other aspects of development.

Rajul (Thu May 14 1998 8:22 IST)
Mr Pant> Do you think these tests were really necessary for a credible nuclear deterrant. I mean both China and Pakistan knew we have 160-250 nuclear warheads. Why then this flexing of muscles?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:33 IST)
Rajul: I think it is well known that India had conducted only one underground nuclear fission test in 1974. I don't think that would be accepted as giving adequate to support the claim of India having a credible nuclear deterrent; these tests were therefore necessary.

sai (Thu May 14 1998 8:13 IST)
I commend the thinking of the present government in 'coming out of the closet' with respect to the nuclear option. Hopefully the cost/benefit analyses done so far will prove to be adequate.

Has the Indian government considered garnering its resources in the US as far as lobbying Congress is concerned? I would definitely recommend using the economic interests of companies like Enron, IBM, Coca-Cola, Microsoft etc. to most of the lobbying on behalf of India. Of course we should also use our own lobbying (law firms) and encourage Indians abroad to organise themselves in this regard. Any thoughts on this?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:35 IST)
TNAP-SAI: I don't speak for the government. But I have no hesitation in acknowledging the utility of the suggestions that have been made.

buddhas laughter (Thu May 14 1998 8:29 IST)
Mr. Pant: Do you think that the western powers will recognise India as a "nuclear power" and allow it to sign CTBT & NPT and treat us as equals?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:39 IST)
Buddha's laughter; After these nuclear tests, one expects that India will be accepted as a nuclear weapons capable power. That is a reasonable expectation based on the facts of the situation. That doesn't ensure that there would be no resistance to accepting this reality on the part of those countries which have been taking certain fixed positions in this respect.

Sunita (Thu May 14 1998 8:38 IST)
Mr Pant: Why did your wife contest elections instead of you? Is it that you support the feminist movement?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:41 IST)
Sunita: My wife has been a member of the BJP since 1991 and though she was not an applicant, shri Vajpayee persuaded her to contest to the Lok Sabha election. I would therefore like to give the credit of supporting the feminist movement to a bachelor.

Rajul (Thu May 14 1998 8:37 IST)
I have a feeling that after being nuclearly armed, India would be more prone to attack Pakistan over Kashmir .... so the chances of a war in the near future have increased ... especially in the backdrop of the Akhand Bharat philosophy of the govt!

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:46 IST)
Rajul: I don't agree. India has never been an aggressor although it has faced aggression several times. Even now India would be glad to engage Pakistan in a dialogue to improve relations but it requires two to move in this direction effectively. India's security concerns are not confined to south Asia. It must therefore be realised that India's attempts to enhance its military and economic capabilities are not Pakistan-oriented.

buddhas laughter (Thu May 14 1998 8:42 IST)
Mr. Pant: Thank you for your earlier reply. When is the Indian security review (which you are heading) likely to be completed?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:49 IST)
Buddha's laughter: The Strategic Defence Review will be carried out by the national security council, which will be set up after the task force has submitted its report.

sans (Thu May 14 1998 8:47 IST)
Pantji that's a politically correct version of "we've got the Bomb, so there". But in the realistic assessment, my father was a fighter pilot who lost his life along with thousands of others defending the country's borders. Most of my relatives are in the forces. Yet for all the sacrifice made, our country has remained a corrupt nation where everything has a price. It is a sad commentary that there is such disillusionment with the polity that there is very little we have left to fight for. So, if as a result of this sabre-rattling we go to war and a few more thousands die, what will it be for? More poverty, more corruption from your colleagues and friends? What for?

Mr K C Pant (Thu May 14 1998 8:57 IST)
Sans: I can understand your concern. We certainly need to tackle problems like corruption effectively. Of late many political persons who occupied high positions in the government are facing corruption charges in courts of law. The law runs its own course. But more needs to be done at the level of political parties and in terms of our social values.

Having said this I am sure that you will agree with me that whoever is running the government has a sacred duty to protect the borders, sovereignty and the core values of this country. To do this should not be termed as sabre-rattling. Weakness only invites aggression. At the same time India has maturity not to allow its growing strength to abet aggression in any form.