<p>A son of Kargil martyr says that he had lost his mother after she was denied treatment in a hospital due to an unavailability of the Aadhaar card.</p>

<p>The son of the deceased said &quot;I brought my mother in a serious condition to the hospital. They asked me to get Aadhaar card, but I didn&#39;t have it then so I showed them a copy in&nbsp;my phone. &quot;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Wife of a Kargil martyr dies at a hospital in Haryana&#39;s Sonipat, claims son; says &quot;I brought my mother in a serious condition to the hospital. They asked me to get the Aadhaar card, but I didn&#39;t have it then so I showed them a copy in my phone&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Vm1ZmgzGZN">pic.twitter.com/Vm1ZmgzGZN</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/946812907316285440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>He said that he had told the hospital that he would present the Aadhaar in an hour and asked them to begin with the treatment&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I said that I will get Aadhaar in an hour or so, meanwhile begin with the treatment but the hospital refused to do so: Pavan Kumar,son <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sonipat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sonipat</a> <a href="https://t.co/rKkBOyMIXF">pic.twitter.com/rKkBOyMIXF</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/946813774798958594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The hospital, on the other hand, claims that they never denied them any treatment. A doctor in the hospital said that he never got the patient to the hospital.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A doctor in the hospital&nbsp;claims that they have never denied any treatment due to the absence of the Aadhaar card, Aadhaar is mandatory not for treatment but for documentation.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We never denied them treatment. Please note that he never got the patient to the hospital. We have never stopped any treatment due to Aadhaar card ever. It is mandatory, not for treatment, but for documentation process: Doctor <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sonipat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sonipat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Haryana?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Haryana</a> <a href="https://t.co/MKOtcckZ73">pic.twitter.com/MKOtcckZ73</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/946815282135425029?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The incident occurred in Sonipat, Haryana.</p>

<p>Father of Kargil martyr Vijayant Thapar has reacted to the incident saying these are the kind of things that hit the morale of armed forces.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shocked at the disgusting news. We&#39;ve become so indifferent to human life! These are the kind of things that hit morale of armed forces: VN Thapar,father or Kargil martyr Vijayant Thapar on death of a martyr&#39;s wife over alleged denial of treatment due to unavailability of Aadhaar <a href="https://t.co/bNeDs3B1Dy">pic.twitter.com/bNeDs3B1Dy</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/946967165789339649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


A son of Kargil martyr says that he had lost his mother after she was denied treatment in a hospital due to an unavailability of Aadhaar card

A son of Kargil martyr says that he had lost his mother after she was denied treatment in a hospital due to an unavailability of the Aadhaar card. The son of the deceased said "I brought my mother in a serious condition to the hospital. They asked me to get Aadhaar card, but I didn't have it then so I showed them a copy in my phone. " Wife of a Kargil martyr dies at a hospital in Haryana's Sonipat, claims son; says "I brought my mother in a serious condition to the hospital. They asked me to get the Aadhaar card, but I didn't have it then so I showed them a copy in my phone" pic.twitter.com/Vm1ZmgzGZN — ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2017 × He said that he had told the hospital that he would present the Aadhaar in an hour and asked them to begin with the treatment I said that I will get Aadhaar in an hour or so, meanwhile begin with the treatment but the hospital refused to do so: Pavan Kumar,son #Sonipat pic.twitter.com/rKkBOyMIXF — ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2017 × The hospital, on the other hand, claims that they never denied them any treatment. A doctor in the hospital said that he never got the patient to the hospital. A doctor in the hospital claims that they have never denied any treatment due to the absence of the Aadhaar card, Aadhaar is mandatory not for treatment but for documentation. We never denied them treatment. Please note that he never got the patient to the hospital. We have never stopped any treatment due to Aadhaar card ever. It is mandatory, not for treatment, but for documentation process: Doctor #Sonipat #Haryana pic.twitter.com/MKOtcckZ73 — ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2017 × The incident occurred in Sonipat, Haryana. Father of Kargil martyr Vijayant Thapar has reacted to the incident saying these are the kind of things that hit the morale of armed forces. Shocked at the disgusting news. We've become so indifferent to human life! These are the kind of things that hit morale of armed forces: VN Thapar,father or Kargil martyr Vijayant Thapar on death of a martyr's wife over alleged denial of treatment due to unavailability of Aadhaar pic.twitter.com/bNeDs3B1Dy — ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2017 ×

No Aadhaar, no treatment, wife of Kargil martyr dies

<p>Night temperature at most places in Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, increased on Sunday night, but the mercury continued to fall in Kargil which experienced this winter&#39;s coldest night.</p>

<p>The minimum temperature in Kargil dipped over a degree from minus 13.4 degrees Celsius to minus 14.5 degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological Department said.</p>

<p>He said the mercury has been on a downward spiral for the past week in the town which experienced this winter&#39;s coldest night.</p>

<p>The nearby Leh recorded a low of minus 11 degrees Celsius last night over a degree up from the previous night&#39;s minus 12.2 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>The official said Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius up from the previous night&#39;s minus 3.7 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>The mercury in Qazigund in south Kashmir settled at a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, a notch up, while Kokernag town recorded a low of minus 2.3 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, the official said.</p>

<p>The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 6 degrees Celsius last night compared to the previous night&#39;s minus 7.5 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>He said the mercury at Pahalgam, the famous health resort which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, rose by nearly four degrees from minus 9.2 degrees Celsius the previous night to register the minimum of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius.</p>

<p>The MeT office has forecast mainly dry weather in the state over the next few days.</p>


The nearby Leh recorded a low of minus 11 degrees Celsius last night over a degree up from the previous night's minus 12.2 degrees Celsius.

Night temperature at most places in Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, increased on Sunday night, but the mercury continued to fall in Kargil which experienced this winter's coldest night. The minimum temperature in Kargil dipped over a degree from minus 13.4 degrees Celsius to minus 14.5 degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological Department said. He said the mercury has been on a downward spiral for the past week in the town which experienced this winter's coldest night. The nearby Leh recorded a low of minus 11 degrees Celsius last night over a degree up from the previous night's minus 12.2 degrees Celsius. The official said Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius up from the previous night's minus 3.7 degrees Celsius. The mercury in Qazigund in south Kashmir settled at a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, a notch up, while Kokernag town recorded a low of minus 2.3 degrees Celsius. Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, the official said. The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 6 degrees Celsius last night compared to the previous night's minus 7.5 degrees Celsius. He said the mercury at Pahalgam, the famous health resort which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, rose by nearly four degrees from minus 9.2 degrees Celsius the previous night to register the minimum of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius. The MeT office has forecast mainly dry weather in the state over the next few days.

At minus 13.4 degrees Celsius, Kargil in J&K experiences winter's coldest night

<p>When walking down the main market road in Kargil, a narrow winding lane branches off, with small shops on either side. Colourful scarves and&nbsp;<i>dupattas</i>&nbsp;flutter on display outside each shop here &ndash; and inside is a varied collection of&nbsp;<i>salwar kameez</i>&nbsp;sets, sweaters, accessories, footwear, kids&#39; garments and other items.</p>

<p>This is Commander Market, so called, locals say because the land the shops stand on is owned by a &lsquo;commander&rsquo;. The shopkeepers here are all Shia women.</p>

<p>Kargil is located close to the border in Ladakh and flanked by the Himalayas. It was an important southern node in the Central Asian silk route trade until 1947 when borders were drawn between India and Pakistan. The town&rsquo;s population of around 16,000 (Census 2011) mainly comprises Muslims, along with some Buddhists and a few Sikh families. They have, over the generations, seen three wars, the last of them in 1999.</p>

<p>The first shop run by a woman came up at Commander Market &ndash; it got that name later &ndash; nearly three decades ago. The shop owner faced severe opposition and vilification, the present shop owners says, which is why they don&rsquo;t want her to be named. Over time though, inspired by her determination and success, 2-3 more women rented spaces at the same location. Now, there are around 30 shops at this market, all but three of them run by women.</p>

<p>From scarcely any women in public places in Kargil until even a decade ago, Commander Market is now an uncelebrated landmark. The younger shopkeepers here attribute the change to an increase in female literacy (from around 42 per cent in 2001 to 56 per cent in 2011). Plus, the older shopkeepers say, their economic independence drew more women to the market &ndash; some out of a compulsion to earn, some inspired by their predecessors. Kargil, they say, has now accepted this change.</p>

<p>When I visited Commander Market for this photo essay, a few women avoided the camera, some were concerned about their photographs being published, and some did not want their full names to be used. But most of them were happy and proud to share their stories.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>A busy Saturday afternoon at Commander Market during the month of Ramadan. (Source: www.ruralindiaonline.org) (Others)</p>
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<p>Abida Khanam (right), says &ldquo;I&rsquo;m doing a BA through distance education because I want to be financially independent as well. This shop is my aunt&rsquo;s. Shahida and I assist her. I get paid Rs. 7-8,000 a month by my aunt. (Source:ruralindiaonline.org) (Others)</p>
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<p>&quot;We travel to Jammu and Srinagar, Ludhiana and Delhi, to buy products to sell,&rdquo; Abida Khanam says. The women, prefer to do the shopping during the off-season winters, when they get a break from the harsh cold of Kargil. (Source:ruralindiaonline.org) (Others)</p>
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<p>&ldquo;I feel proud to be one of the few men in this market,&rdquo; Mansoor says, &ldquo;and happy to be helping my aging parents earn a living for the family.&rdquo; (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others)</p>
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<p>Sarah (left), 32, is excited about her new venture as a businesswoman, and plans to run the shop with the help of her younger sister. (Source:ruralindiaonline.org) (Others)</p>
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<p>Bano, shying away from the camera, says, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m feeling tired and am waiting for the time of iftaar to break my fast.&rdquo; (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others)</p>
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<p>&quot;This [demonstrating the scarf by wrapping it around her neck] is a woollen &lsquo;infinity loop&rsquo; and it&rsquo;s very trendy. It&rsquo;s popular among foreign tourists who happen to be in Kargil,&rdquo; says Haji Akhtar, 38. (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others)</p>
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<p>Kaneez Fatima, 25, helps her mother, one of the first women to set up a shop in this market over two decades ago. (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others)</p>
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<p>Fatima has been running this shop for almost six years. Her husband Mohammad Isa, sitting by her side, supported her in starting this small business. (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others)</p>
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<p>&ldquo;Achey (sister), why don&#39;t you take our picture as well?&rdquo; ask some young boys who are visiting a shop. (Others)</p>
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<p><font size="1"><font color="black" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">This <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/articles/the-commander-heights-of-kargils-economy/">article</a> was originally published on 27/ 07/ 2017 on the <a href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/">People&#39;s Archive of Rural India.</a></font></font></p>

<p><font size="1"><font color="black" face="Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><i>&nbsp;</i></font></font></p>


This extraordinary market in Kargil, Ladakh ? where all but three shops are run by women ? has inspirational tales embedded in its origins and success

When walking down the main market road in Kargil, a narrow winding lane branches off, with small shops on either side. Colourful scarves and dupattas flutter on display outside each shop here – and inside is a varied collection of salwar kameez sets, sweaters, accessories, footwear, kids' garments and other items. This is Commander Market, so called, locals say because the land the shops stand on is owned by a ‘commander’. The shopkeepers here are all Shia women. Kargil is located close to the border in Ladakh and flanked by the Himalayas. It was an important southern node in the Central Asian silk route trade until 1947 when borders were drawn between India and Pakistan. The town’s population of around 16,000 (Census 2011) mainly comprises Muslims, along with some Buddhists and a few Sikh families. They have, over the generations, seen three wars, the last of them in 1999. The first shop run by a woman came up at Commander Market – it got that name later – nearly three decades ago. The shop owner faced severe opposition and vilification, the present shop owners says, which is why they don’t want her to be named. Over time though, inspired by her determination and success, 2-3 more women rented spaces at the same location. Now, there are around 30 shops at this market, all but three of them run by women. From scarcely any women in public places in Kargil until even a decade ago, Commander Market is now an uncelebrated landmark. The younger shopkeepers here attribute the change to an increase in female literacy (from around 42 per cent in 2001 to 56 per cent in 2011). Plus, the older shopkeepers say, their economic independence drew more women to the market – some out of a compulsion to earn, some inspired by their predecessors. Kargil, they say, has now accepted this change. When I visited Commander Market for this photo essay, a few women avoided the camera, some were concerned about their photographs being published, and some did not want their full names to be used. But most of them were happy and proud to share their stories. A busy Saturday afternoon at Commander Market during the month of Ramadan. (Source: www.ruralindiaonline.org) (Others) × Abida Khanam (right), says “I’m doing a BA through distance education because I want to be financially independent as well. This shop is my aunt’s. Shahida and I assist her. I get paid Rs. 7-8,000 a month by my aunt. (Source:ruralindiaonline.org) (Others) × "We travel to Jammu and Srinagar, Ludhiana and Delhi, to buy products to sell,” Abida Khanam says. The women, prefer to do the shopping during the off-season winters, when they get a break from the harsh cold of Kargil. (Source:ruralindiaonline.org) (Others) × “I feel proud to be one of the few men in this market,” Mansoor says, “and happy to be helping my aging parents earn a living for the family.” (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others) × Sarah (left), 32, is excited about her new venture as a businesswoman, and plans to run the shop with the help of her younger sister. (Source:ruralindiaonline.org) (Others) × Bano, shying away from the camera, says, “I’m feeling tired and am waiting for the time of iftaar to break my fast.” (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others) × "This [demonstrating the scarf by wrapping it around her neck] is a woollen ‘infinity loop’ and it’s very trendy. It’s popular among foreign tourists who happen to be in Kargil,” says Haji Akhtar, 38. (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others) × Kaneez Fatima, 25, helps her mother, one of the first women to set up a shop in this market over two decades ago. (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others) × Fatima has been running this shop for almost six years. Her husband Mohammad Isa, sitting by her side, supported her in starting this small business. (Source: ruralindiaonline.org) (Others) × “Achey (sister), why don't you take our picture as well?” ask some young boys who are visiting a shop. (Others) × This article was originally published on 27/ 07/ 2017 on the People's Archive of Rural India.

The Commander Heights of Kargil's economy

<p>Gurmehar Kaur pulled out of the protest march Tuesday by Delhi University and JNU students.</p>

<p>The students were marching at Delhi university to protest against &quot;goondaism&quot; by the ABVP. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Gurmehar had been supposed to attend but finally pulled out, tweeting that &quot;this is all my 20 year self could take :)&quot;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I have been through a lot and this is all my 20 year self could take :)</p>
&mdash; Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/mehartweets/status/836393973446893569">February 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">To anyone questioning my courage and bravery.. I&#39;ve shown more than enough</p>
&mdash; Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/mehartweets/status/836394882331627521">February 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>She however encouraged people to attend the march, saying the campaign &quot;is about students and not about me&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She also asked to be left alone.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It&#39;s a request, please leave me alone. Stop spamming my wall and phone. Any question abt my decision tweet to <a href="https://twitter.com/Voice_Of_Ram">@Voice_Of_Ram</a></p>
&mdash; Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/mehartweets/status/836449772290605056">February 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>There was tremendous amounts of support for her.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hounding of &amp; threats to <a href="https://twitter.com/mehartweets">@mehartweets</a> by Sanghi trolls tells how effective she is. Like her father, she is a brave person. More power to her</p>
&mdash; Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) <a href="https://twitter.com/SitaramYechury/status/835893350674927617">February 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/mehartweets">@mehartweets</a> dont see it as a withdrawal. you have shown courage,m spunk and dignity and made your point. More than.</p>
&mdash; barkha dutt (@BDUTT) <a href="https://twitter.com/BDUTT/status/836424469883187200">February 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Also on Tuesday, Delhi Police filed an FIR&nbsp;on Gurmehar&#39;s complaint that alleged ABVP members had made rape threats against&nbsp;her.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Gurmehar&#39;s grandfather Kanwaljeet Singh lashed out at politicians Tuesday.</p>

<p>&quot;Drama is being created which shouldn`t be highlighted. Politicians must refrain from giving statements,&quot; ANI reported him as saying. &nbsp;</p>

<p>This was after minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju alleged &quot;leftists&quot; were misleading Gurmehar. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;She (Gurmehar Kaur) is a young girl, creating controversy over her isn`t right. It is about leftists who celebrate when our jawans die. They mislead the youth and it is not right,&quot; Rijiju had told reporters.</p>

<p>ANI reported Rijiju as having said Gurmehar is the daughter of a Kargil martyr whose soul must be weeping seeing his daughter being misguided by those who celebrate on the bodies of martyrs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He had earlier wonder who was &quot;polluting&quot;&nbsp;her mind.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The lyricist Javed Akhtar was quick to pounce on that, tweeting: &quot;I don&#39;t about her but Mr Minister I know who is polluting your mind.&quot;</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from ANI)</p>


'I have been through a lot and this is all my 20 year self could take', she tweets

Gurmehar Kaur pulled out of the protest march Tuesday by Delhi University and JNU students. The students were marching at Delhi university to protest against "goondaism" by the ABVP. Gurmehar had been supposed to attend but finally pulled out, tweeting that "this is all my 20 year self could take :)" I have been through a lot and this is all my 20 year self could take :) — Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 28, 2017 × To anyone questioning my courage and bravery.. I've shown more than enough — Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 28, 2017 × She however encouraged people to attend the march, saying the campaign "is about students and not about me". She also asked to be left alone. It's a request, please leave me alone. Stop spamming my wall and phone. Any question abt my decision tweet to @Voice_Of_Ram — Gurmehar Kaur (@mehartweets) February 28, 2017 × There was tremendous amounts of support for her. Hounding of & threats to @mehartweets by Sanghi trolls tells how effective she is. Like her father, she is a brave person. More power to her — Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) February 26, 2017 × @mehartweets dont see it as a withdrawal. you have shown courage,m spunk and dignity and made your point. More than. — barkha dutt (@BDUTT) February 28, 2017 × Also on Tuesday, Delhi Police filed an FIR on Gurmehar's complaint that alleged ABVP members had made rape threats against her. Meanwhile, Gurmehar's grandfather Kanwaljeet Singh lashed out at politicians Tuesday. "Drama is being created which shouldn`t be highlighted. Politicians must refrain from giving statements," ANI reported him as saying. This was after minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju alleged "leftists" were misleading Gurmehar. "She (Gurmehar Kaur) is a young girl, creating controversy over her isn`t right. It is about leftists who celebrate when our jawans die. They mislead the youth and it is not right," Rijiju had told reporters. ANI reported Rijiju as having said Gurmehar is the daughter of a Kargil martyr whose soul must be weeping seeing his daughter being misguided by those who celebrate on the bodies of martyrs. He had earlier wonder who was "polluting" her mind. The lyricist Javed Akhtar was quick to pounce on that, tweeting: "I don't about her but Mr Minister I know who is polluting your mind." (WION with inputs from ANI)

Gurmehar pulls out of protest march against ABVP

<p>On 12 August, Pakistan asked India to sign a moratorium on nuclear testing. The United States was quick to follow with a recommendation that both countries sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). But the prospects for the treaty, always rejected by New Delhi, to put India on the defensive are once again dim.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Both Pakistan and the US were performing perfunctory rituals. Islamabad knows that there is virtually no possibility that India, which is concerned about the threat posed by China, will sign on this particular dotted line. It has gone through the motions for entirely different reasons: to deflect criticism that it is building the world&rsquo;s fastest growing stockpile of nuclear bombs; and to try and hang on to the notion that India and Pakistan are strategically inseparable. Washington is keeping a straight face while giving the treaty a dutiful nod but has in fact stopped putting pressure on India on this score.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CTBT is destined to lie dormant for the foreseeable future because no one is really interested in it. Indian policy makers need not worry that a new momentum for its signature might be round the corner. There are good reasons for this.</p>

<p>&nbsp;First, there is no pressure for the CTBT because there is no momentum for testing. Tensions between India and Pakistan are no more than is usual in their up-and-down relationship. To be sure, Kashmir is turbulent again and New Delhi is not doing a great job of tackling it effectively; but there is neither a serious loss of control that might kindle Pakistani expectations, nor the likelihood of a repeat of Kargil.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pakistan has burned its fingers on nuclear risk generation before in Kargil and discovered that it does not bring more than ephemeral benefits. Currently, there is some heat being generated in Northeast Asia, particularly after Pyongyang&rsquo;s launch of an undersea missile last week, but that again is &lsquo;normal&rsquo; for a country that is volatile but has always stayed well short of a serious crisis. Noticeably, the four North Korean tests in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2016 have never produced a pro-CTBT wave.</p>

<p>Second, the US and others (notably Japan) periodically declare their faith in containing nuclear weapons without actually doing much about them. President Obama has done so little to follow up on his much-ballyhooed ambition to rid the world of nuclear weapons that his Nobel Peace Prize has long lost its shine. One respected commentator, Barry Blechman, has gone so far as to say that in the interests of &lsquo;decency,&rsquo; Obama should return the prize. For their part, Japanese leaders have balked at doing civilian nuclear business with India and advised it to sign the CTBT.&nbsp;Japan&#39;s sentiment can hardly be taken seriously by others since it rests on the belief system of a public that is happy to enjoy the security provided by the American nuclear umbrella.</p>

<p>Third, even as the CTBT mantra is periodically intoned in support of disarmament, most nuclear-armed states are in the process of actually doing the opposite. To cite just a few instances: over the next three decades, the United States is expected to modernize its nuclear arsenal and deploy its existing forces at a cost &ndash; still being debated &ndash; of about $1 trillion. Russia is building a new intercontinental ballistic missile, nuclear-armed drone submarines, and a space-based hypersonic strategic bomber. And China, which recently confirmed that it has tested a new rail-mobile missile capable of striking any target in the United States, has also carried out six tests of a hypersonic glide vehicle that can fly at up to ten times the speed of sound.&nbsp;</p>

<p>India, too, is dabbling with hypersonic technology, multiple warhead missiles and a wide range of weapons systems. The notion of a decline in the value of nuclear arms is illusory. As long as this remains true, states will find it politically difficult to give up testing.</p>

<p>Fourth, there is a growing conservative sentiment among major nuclear powers as is evident from national political trends in Britain, China, France, India, Russia, and the United States. Given the increasing focus on national security and fear of &lsquo;the other,&rsquo; howsoever defined, political leaders will find it hard to contemplate constraints on nuclear capacity.</p>

<p>Fifth, the CTBT has been on the table for almost two decades since 24 September 1996. A large number of countries have signed it, including China, Israel, and the United States, but these three, which signed it immediately after it was opened for signature, have yet to ratify it, leaving it close to becoming moribund twenty years later. There is thus a built-in inertia in the movement against testing. In any case, under the terms of the CTBT, it can enter into force only if all countries in a list of 44 with actual or potential capability are on board &ndash; and this includes India and other holdouts.</p>

<p>Ironically, the reluctance of India, Pakistan, and others to accede to the treaty is based on weak reasoning. The CTBT has an exit clause that allows a signatory to opt out if required by the &lsquo;supreme national interest.&rsquo; Hence the Russians, who have ratified the treaty, have not appeared unduly worried about its putative constraints. In India, another reason for not signing is said to be the need to refine the technical quality of the nation&rsquo;s arsenal. But history shows that nuclear weapons are effective deterrents not because their possessors are certain of their ability to hit the enemy, but because the enemy is not certain of avoiding the enormous pain they can cause. That is why small nuclear arsenals invariably deter much bigger ones.</p>

<p>Ultimately, it&rsquo;s fuzzy strategic thinking that holds several countries back from signing or ratifying the CTBT. Be that as it may, occasional efforts to leverage the CTBT need not worry Indian policy makers much.</p>


The CTBT is destined to lie dormant for the foreseeable future because no one is really interested in it.

On 12 August, Pakistan asked India to sign a moratorium on nuclear testing. The United States was quick to follow with a recommendation that both countries sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). But the prospects for the treaty, always rejected by New Delhi, to put India on the defensive are once again dim. Both Pakistan and the US were performing perfunctory rituals. Islamabad knows that there is virtually no possibility that India, which is concerned about the threat posed by China, will sign on this particular dotted line. It has gone through the motions for entirely different reasons: to deflect criticism that it is building the world’s fastest growing stockpile of nuclear bombs; and to try and hang on to the notion that India and Pakistan are strategically inseparable. Washington is keeping a straight face while giving the treaty a dutiful nod but has in fact stopped putting pressure on India on this score. The CTBT is destined to lie dormant for the foreseeable future because no one is really interested in it. Indian policy makers need not worry that a new momentum for its signature might be round the corner. There are good reasons for this. First, there is no pressure for the CTBT because there is no momentum for testing. Tensions between India and Pakistan are no more than is usual in their up-and-down relationship. To be sure, Kashmir is turbulent again and New Delhi is not doing a great job of tackling it effectively; but there is neither a serious loss of control that might kindle Pakistani expectations, nor the likelihood of a repeat of Kargil. Pakistan has burned its fingers on nuclear risk generation before in Kargil and discovered that it does not bring more than ephemeral benefits. Currently, there is some heat being generated in Northeast Asia, particularly after Pyongyang’s launch of an undersea missile last week, but that again is ‘normal’ for a country that is volatile but has always stayed well short of a serious crisis. Noticeably, the four North Korean tests in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2016 have never produced a pro-CTBT wave. Second, the US and others (notably Japan) periodically declare their faith in containing nuclear weapons without actually doing much about them. President Obama has done so little to follow up on his much-ballyhooed ambition to rid the world of nuclear weapons that his Nobel Peace Prize has long lost its shine. One respected commentator, Barry Blechman, has gone so far as to say that in the interests of ‘decency,’ Obama should return the prize. For their part, Japanese leaders have balked at doing civilian nuclear business with India and advised it to sign the CTBT. Japan's sentiment can hardly be taken seriously by others since it rests on the belief system of a public that is happy to enjoy the security provided by the American nuclear umbrella. Third, even as the CTBT mantra is periodically intoned in support of disarmament, most nuclear-armed states are in the process of actually doing the opposite. To cite just a few instances: over the next three decades, the United States is expected to modernize its nuclear arsenal and deploy its existing forces at a cost – still being debated – of about $1 trillion. Russia is building a new intercontinental ballistic missile, nuclear-armed drone submarines, and a space-based hypersonic strategic bomber. And China, which recently confirmed that it has tested a new rail-mobile missile capable of striking any target in the United States, has also carried out six tests of a hypersonic glide vehicle that can fly at up to ten times the speed of sound. India, too, is dabbling with hypersonic technology, multiple warhead missiles and a wide range of weapons systems. The notion of a decline in the value of nuclear arms is illusory. As long as this remains true, states will find it politically difficult to give up testing. Fourth, there is a growing conservative sentiment among major nuclear powers as is evident from national political trends in Britain, China, France, India, Russia, and the United States. Given the increasing focus on national security and fear of ‘the other,’ howsoever defined, political leaders will find it hard to contemplate constraints on nuclear capacity. Fifth, the CTBT has been on the table for almost two decades since 24 September 1996. A large number of countries have signed it, including China, Israel, and the United States, but these three, which signed it immediately after it was opened for signature, have yet to ratify it, leaving it close to becoming moribund twenty years later. There is thus a built-in inertia in the movement against testing. In any case, under the terms of the CTBT, it can enter into force only if all countries in a list of 44 with actual or potential capability are on board – and this includes India and other holdouts. Ironically, the reluctance of India, Pakistan, and others to accede to the treaty is based on weak reasoning. The CTBT has an exit clause that allows a signatory to opt out if required by the ‘supreme national interest.’ Hence the Russians, who have ratified the treaty, have not appeared unduly worried about its putative constraints. In India, another reason for not signing is said to be the need to refine the technical quality of the nation’s arsenal. But history shows that nuclear weapons are effective deterrents not because their possessors are certain of their ability to hit the enemy, but because the enemy is not certain of avoiding the enormous pain they can cause. That is why small nuclear arsenals invariably deter much bigger ones. Ultimately, it’s fuzzy strategic thinking that holds several countries back from signing or ratifying the CTBT. Be that as it may, occasional efforts to leverage the CTBT need not worry Indian policy makers much.

India and the CTBT ? no closer to signature

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