The Atomic Age The recent India and Pakistan nuclear tests brought nuclear proliferation and the terrible threat of nuclear war back to the worlds center stage (Bidwai 157). India's first endeavor at research into the nuclear field began in 1948 when they established an Atomic Energy Commission for exploring the potential of uranium ore (Mirchandani 4). In 1953 Eisenhower began a Atoms for Peace program which would offer access to nuclear technology with the understanding that it was to be used for civilian use and not for weaponry of mass destruction, however this led to the training of Indian scientists by the United States in 1959. In 1966 India declared that it would be capable of producing nuclear weapons within a year. Similar events were unfolding in Pakistan at the same time as both countries moved towards the apparently inevitable (4). On Monday May 8, 1998 at 6:15 a.m. India became the first nation in years to detonate a nuclear weapon. Scientists exploded three nuclear devices 328 feet underground. The three devices were composed of a fission device, a low-yield device, and a thermonuclear device; according to Atal Behari Vajpayee, the prime minister, the devices went off as planned, releasing no radioactivity into the air (Bidwai 4). These tests were conducted in Pokhran, which is an uninhabited area 63 miles from the Pakistan border in the desert state of Rajasthan. Five days later on May 13 India conducted more tests and detonated two more nuclear devises in the remote desert (45). The people of India demonstrated an enormous positive response to the testing and applauded the fact that they now are demonstrating their position as a nuclear power of the world. The Indian people, in general, appeared to be exceedingly proud of their country and even the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, Tushar Gandhi, stated that he was proud of what his country had done and was proud that it had been done by Indians (51). President Clinton threatened to punish India for their acts and also asked India's neighbors to refrain from mimicking India's actions. Pakistan, however, vowed to match India's aggressive move each step of the way. Pakistan's foreign minister, Gohar Ayub Khan, declared that they would catch up in a rapid arms race that stunned the world (94). In an attempt is ease tension between India and Pakistani; President Clinton pleaded with Pakistanis Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif to put to a halt their intentions to demonstrate their own nuclear capabilities. He offered the country a special type of relationship with the United States which has long been a dream of Pakistan and begged that the country not ruin a record three decades of nuclear nonproliferation (Hirsch 22). But the pressure that Sharif was under was far too great to back down. On May 28, Pakistan exploded its own nuclear devise in the Chagai Hills. Three days later they conducted yet another nuclear test. Until recently the powers that have contained a history of nuclear weaponry were the United States, Russia, and China. In the past ten years these countries, as well as the democracies of Europe, and the Balkans, have paid little attention to the growing rivalry between the two countries of India and Pakistan (Elliott 20). The rivalry between the two countries has been going on for some time and mere threats from the UN or any individual power does not appear to have any impact on either country's decision making policies (21). These two countries that are only separated by five minutes in flight time are bound for a relationship much like that which was experienced between the Soviet Union and the United States daring the cold war. With tension high it is important to understand what the implications could mean if the two countries were to open up a nuclear war. Although they are relatively small countries, in comparison to Russia and the United States, it is estimated that if nuclear war were to erupt between the two there would be devastating consequences. Experts say that more than 17 million Pakistani and 29 million Indian would die within the first few hours (Hirsch 23). It is estimated that there would not be nearly enough hospital facilities to accommodate any such casualties that would inevitably occur. There are only 59 hospital beds and 48 physicians per 100,000 in Pakistan and 74 beds and 47 physicians per 100,000 in India (23). The projected number of deaths could reach over one millio n and the nuclear fallout would likely reach far into China and Southeast Asia (23). Apparently both sides toned down their rhetoric the last weekend in May but the tension is still exceedingly high and new hostilities could erupt at any time. It has been reported that India's Hindu nationalist government believes that the Pakistani are involved in a war of sorts in the province of Kashmir (23). It is also believed that there are Muslim guerrillas there, which were recruited from Afghanistan. And on the Indian side it is reported that on May 18, 1998 a top level meeting took place whereby the India officials decided that New Delhi should now take an active role and they then ordered the India Army to become involved by moving equipment into the area (23). Another fear is that China may now become involved as they get caught up in the struggle between the two countries. This would possibly set back all the talks on nonproliferation that have previously taken place (Hirsch 26). Sharif thanked the Chinese in his speech that told of the impending tests and the decision to test has gained much support from some of the military hard-liners in China who are also disturbed at the claim India has apparently made in regards to the threat the Chinese presents (26). The United States has imposed economic sanctions against both India and Pakistan, which includes cutting off the World Bank and International Monetary Fund aid. This could prove potentially ruinous for both India and Pakistan, both of which are considerably financially unstable countries to begin with. It has been said that a country, which is bankrupt, can be incredibly dangerous when the only thing they have to sell is an atom bomb (Hirsch 27). India and Pakistan have nuclear bombs now and feel entirely justified in having them (Bidwai 2). Tension is presently incredibly high as the powers of the world sit back and wait. This is a conflict that has been going on for many years and although it was under different conditions in terms of weaponry, they have been steadily moving towards this day for some time. Now with the nuclear capabilities they possess the threat is even more real and pressing. My name is R.J. please don't use if you go to ETSU!!!! Work Cited Bidwai, Praful, and Vanaik, Achin. New Nukes. New York: Olive Branch Press, 1998. Elliott, Michael. "Out of Pandora's Box.," Newsweek, (1998): June, pp. 20. 20. Hirsch, Michael; Barry, John. "Nuclear Jitters.," Newsweek, (1998): June, pp. 22-27. Mirchandani, D.D. Indias Nuclear Dilemma. New York: Humanities Press INC. 1978.