In these times of escalating tensions, the threat of a nuclear war is more real than ever before. It is widely believed that rogue nations have been able to get their hands on nuclear technology and it only takes a spark to set off a conflagration. India herself is not immune to this threat.
The instability across the border is one of the main reasons. Right now, Pakistan is moving steadily towards utter chaos as the Taliban lays claim to more and more swathes of the country.
In any event, India is fully prepared to face any contingency though it is hoped that there won’t be any need for drastic measures. Nuclear war can be both limited and a full scale war. In the former, two opposing nations may target each other’s military facilities only. In a full scale nuclear war, the consequences will be devastating.
Image Source : trunews.com
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The entire economic, social and military infrastructure of a country could be destroyed. There will be heavy casualties – millions will die in minutes – and it will take many years for the country to recover from the attack. An even grimmer scenario hints at possible extinction of the human race.
Even if there are survivors, life will be very difficult for them as earth’s ecosystems would have suffered permanent damage in the attack. The United States is the only country in the world to have used nuclear weapons. Two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 during World War II.
Since then, many countries like the UK, France, and China have conducted nuclear tests. Among developing nations, India and Pakistan have publicly tested nuclear devices. In 2006, North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test. Iran has also embarked on a nuclear program.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
CIA reports point to the possibility of a nuclear war between India and Pakistan if tensions continue. During the Kargil war in 1999, Pakistan even made a veiled threat to unleash a nuclear strike.
The Kargil war is the only war that took place between two declared nuclear powers. Unless there is a climate of peace and stability in the world, the threat of nuclear war will continue to loom large over mankind.