Call For A Nuke-free World

The United Nations General Assembly on December 2, 2009 adopted a resolution, declaring August 29 as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Since then, August 29 is observed every year as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. The 29th of August was chosen to mark the anti-nuclear test day to coincide with the anniversary of the Soviet Union conducting the first nuclear test in 1949 in Semipalatinsk currently in Kazakhstan and also the day this site was permanently closed in 1991. This is also the date when Kazakhstan ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2019. Since then, August 29 is marked globally with appeal to all countries and people in the world to ban all kinds of nuclear tests and also cease to proliferate nuclear weapons in the world. 

Nine countries — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel — are currently the nuclear powered states possessing nuclear weapons and arsenals. These countries continue to proliferate and modernise their nuclear arsenals and a few other countries are in the race of developing nuclear arms. The nnuclear weapons the nine countries possess have the capability of completely annihilating the global population and the entire earth civilizations.

Nuke free world

According to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), nine nuclear powered countries have in total 12500 nuclear weapons in arsenals, of which about 9585 are in ready state for use. The ICAN is a coalition of non-governmental organisations in more than 100 countries committed to create nuclear weapons free world and is working in tandem with the United Nations in promoting adherence to and implementation of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, for which it was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. The ICAN observed the International Day against Nuclear Tests August 29 this year drawing the attention of the world to the danger of nuclear weapons and calling upon all to act together for practical and total abolition of nuclear weapons. 

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is Sweden-based independent international think tank dedicated to research on variety of subjects including mainly conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament, which, based on its research, provides data, analysis and recommendations. SIPRI report 2024 states that ‘an estimated 3904 of nuclear warheads are deployed with missiles and aircraft and the rest are in central storage, while around 2100 of the deployed warheads are kept in a state of high operational alert on ballistic missiles’. Most of these warheads belonged to Russia and the USA, while China, too, recently seems to be in the race of having some nuclear warheads on high operational alert.

Considering the devastating nature of nuclear weapons, the initiative to discourage nuclear arms proliferation and its use started almost six decade ago or in 1960s. The Disarmament Committee of the United Nations prepared a draft of Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in 1965. Intense debate and discussions were held on the draft treaty and the treaty document was ultimately finalised in 1968 with certain give and take among the members. And finally the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty was opened for signature on July 1, 1968 and it came into force on March 5, 1970. 

The NPT seeks to ultimately create the nuclear-free world. Under the NPT, non-nuclear-weapon States which are party to the treaty have committed not to manufacture and acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. The nuclear-weapon states, after being party to the treaty, are, at least in principle, committed not to assist, encourage or induce other countries to manufacture or acquire nuclear weapons in any form. It also seeks the countries that had already possessed the nuclear weapons earlier to limit their nuclear arsenals and not to proliferate the new ones and test. 

A total of 191 countries have already signed NPT and have been the party to this treaty. Entering into the treaty makes the countries to be legally bound not to proliferate and use the nuclear weapons of all forms. However, the commitments have remained only in paper as some new countries developed their nuclear weapons and emerged as nuclear states while the old nuclear powers have continued to enhance their nuclear capability and have enlarged their nuclear arsenals. This manifests lip service to the international obligation and an open violation of the commitment they have expressed. As a result, the nuclear weapon proliferation race unfortunately continues and has even intensified in recent years.

War and conflicts are never at the interest of civilizations and humanity. Rulers wage wars in the name of national security but in reality such wars are at the interest of the rulers. While ruling elites and business cohorts may thrive on wars, civilians suffer the most. As nuclear arsenals continue to grow and more countries are seeking to develop nuclear weapons, the future of humanity seems to be highly insecure. Thus, all people all over the world must unite and act with single voice to create nuclear weapon-free world. 

Nepal’s commitment 

Nepal is a country surrounded by nuclear powers. Both India and China are nuclear powers. Five of the nine nuclear nations are in Asia, three in Europe and one in North America. Some more may be trying to build their nuclear capability clandestinely. Against this background, Nepal needs to speak more loudly and stand more firmly against nuclear weapon proliferation and its use. Nepal has already signed the NPT and become party to it. Similarly, Nepal has signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of the Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Nepal is also signatory to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. These are Nepal’s unwavering commitments against proliferation and testing of nuclear weapons.  

Nepal has been a genuine advocate of peace and disarmament and it has been consistently raising these issues in the United Nations and other international forums. However, Nepal is yet to ratify the TPNW even seven years after it signed. It would be good if Nepal ratifies it at the earliest to demonstrate its earnest commitment against the nuclear weapons and save humanity from possible nuclear threat. The earth-endangering nuclear weapons must be abolished for the safety and security of humanity. If we work collectively with greater commitment, it can be done and our conscious and collective initiatives will definitely prevail one day to create nuclear weapon-free world.  

(The author is former editor of this daily and former ambassador to Denmark). lamsalyubanath@gmail.com)