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According to a US nuclear expert, the failure of India to sign the CTBT may hamper its chances for becoming a permanent part of the UN Security Council. This statement comes with just days left for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's US visit.
"If China ratifies the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the spotlight will fall on Pakistan and India," said Rodney W. Jones.
“It's reasonable for India to assume that resuming nuclear testing or not signing the CTBT could affect its chances for a permanent seat in the UNSC”, he said. He added that there are other nations including Japan who are in race of the UNSC seat.
But he mentioned that the CTBT will be ratified by the US only after a year or two as the Obama administration is currently handling issues like global financial crisis and domestic health care and insurance.
Jones is currently president of Policy Architects International, a consulting firm in Virginia that covers strategic, international security and Asian development issues. He had been part of US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency when the Strategic Arms Control Treaty negotiations were on.
