Praful Bidwai

Praful Bidwai, former senior editor of the Times of India, is a writer whose work has appeared in numerous American and Indian publications. He is a cofounder of the Movement in India for Nuclear Disarmament (MIND). In the following viewpoint, he argues that, contrary to the optimistic predictions of some, nuclear weapons have not given India and Pakistan greater international prestige and security. Such weapons have instead made relations between the two nations more strained as each outbreak of conflict threatens to escalate into a nuclear exchange. He concludes by calling for India and Pakistan to rid themselves of nuclear bombs.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What promises did Pakistani and Indian experts make regarding nuclear weapons in 1998, according to Bidwai?
2. How do nuclear weapons degrade...