The fact that nuclear threats and counter-threats are now being bandied about shows the utter irrationality of trying to rely for one's security on the illusory power of nuclear deterrence. There is never, and can never be, any guarantee that this will not break down and if it does there can only be disaster for both sides, not victory or defeat for one and the other. Moreover, deterrence is most likely to fail in conditions where nuclear rivals are in wartime or near wartime conditions. South Asia is the only part of the world where such conditions have repeatedly surfaced for over 50 years because of a persistent rivalry between the same two countries, one which shows no signs of abating in the foreseeable future. It is simple common sense, not external propaganda that makes South Asia the most dangerous nuclear flash point in the world today.

Pakistan is to be blamed for starting this war in Kargil and it is both necessary and legitimate to demand that the status quo ante be restored. Indian efforts to this end should be supported. While India has declared a "no first use" policy regarding nuclear weapons, this in no way can alter the fact that India is primarily to blame for nuclearising the South Asian region in the first place by carrying out the May 1998 tests and initiating the dynamic that followed. By doing this, India followed by Pakistan added a terrible new dimension and risk to their ongoing tensions, which should never have been introduced.

Elimination of the possibility that this or future conventional conflicts between India and Pakistan can ever escalate into a nuclear exchange, regardless of which country begins it or why, can only be done if both countries rapidly and fully reverse direction to denuclearise themselves and the region even as we continuously fight for total global disarmament. It is possible to start this process only if India accepts the responsibility for initiating such a process of reversal.