By Sujatha Fernandes For some time the West, in particular the US government, has been warning about the arms build-up in south Asia. While the nuclear arms race between India and Pakistan is cause for concern, especially given the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistan and Hindu fundamentalism in India, the US government has much to answer for in helping to fuel it. Pakistan's secret military program was launched in 1971, after its defeat by India in the Bangladesh liberation war. The program was accelerated after India tested a nuclear bomb in 1974. In February 1988, India successfully tested the Prithvi, a 240-kilometre-range ballistic missile that contains more than enough fuel for a nuclear warhead. This spurred Pakistan on, and in February 1989, it announced that it had test fired missiles with 80 and 300 kilometre ranges. Since then India has developed the Agni, a 2500 kilometre "intermediate"-range ballistic missile, and an ideal delivery vehicle for its nuclear warheads. Pakistan is also reported to have M-11 missiles. While the US has been pushing India to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it refused to even attend the April conference which extended the treaty. India has also refused to agree on the cessation of fissile material which would subject it to full International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections.
The US role in the south Asia arms build-up
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