Analysis

The recent row on the success of Pokhran II tests led me to think and research about the subject ,which we were once proud of and now we as a nation are debating over endlessly, to get to the truth of the matter, if there is any way to do that.

As I am not a subject matter expert, on nuclear physics & WMD & national security policy, I am just adding another flavor to the concoction, which experts have already prepared using their expertise.

Research

1) The concerned issue is not a recent one.Row was started just after a week of the tests ,when some of Indian scientists and foreign analysts expressed the doubt over the success of the test and believed that the yield of the thermonuclear device was lower than expected.

My question: Why sudden upheaval again ?

2) Dr. Santhanam's allegations , "on purely factual basis",about the failure of TN device and the point by point refutation by Anil Kakodkar and R Chidambram.

Doubts raised by Dr. Santharam were on discrepancy between BARC and DRDO data, traces of Na-22 & Mn-54 isotopes,no crater formation and no damage to shaft. These doubts were refuted point by point by Anil Kakodkar and R Chidambram.

My question: For a laymen, like me, whose contentions should I believe in Dr. Santhanam's or Anil Kakodkar's and R Chidambram's.

3) Totally different view, but not so different, when we start talking about Nuclear deterrence,which questions the need of TN device altogether, amidst questioning the success and failure of TN device.

When I say Nuclear deterrence which questions the need of TN device altogether I am talking about the view that fission weapons alone are sufficient for deterrence.

My Question: If China has the capability of TN device, don't you think we should also be "sure" of the fact that we have it too, for the sake of minimum deterrence. If we need to conduct the tests again to be "sure", of the fact that we do posses the capability of TN device, then why not?

4) Pressure of signing the CTBT. India refused to sign CTBT in New York but committed to get the world rid of nuclear weapons.

My Take: Lets see how many more articles on TN device issue appear in Media from day today.