nuclear-news

The global threat of an Asian nuclear arms race

Austria warns of nuclear race after India, Pakistan tests, http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C04%5C27%5Cstory_27-4-2012_pg7_22 Daily Times, 27 April 12 VIENNA: Austria’s foreign minister on Thursday slammed India and Pakistan’s recent missile tests, insisting the states’ continued pursuit of nuclear weapons was “flat out irresponsible”.

“The tests of an Indian long-range missile a week ago and of an intermediate-range missile by Pakistan on Wednesday are unsettling and suggest an intensifying arms race on the subcontinent,” Michael Spindelegger said in a statement. This “would not only be a threat to stability in Asia, but would also present a threat to global peace”, he said.

India last Thursday tried out a new missile with a range of over 5,000 kilometres, and Pakistan followed on Wednesday by test-firing an intermediate-range ballistic missile of its own. Both have the capability of carrying a nuclear weapon.

“It is flat out irresponsible that the Sword of Damocles that is nuclear destruction still hangs above humanity,” Spindelegger said in an unusually harsh tone.

“The international community should be able to regulate international relations without permanent mutual threats to each other’s existence,” he added.

April 27, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general