Will Pakistan and India’s growing arms race and nuclear brinkmanship spiral into a catastrophe?

June 6, 2012 – INDIA – A nuclear war been India and Pakistan, even if it is limited in nature, would result in major climate disruptions and ultimately, global famine, according to a new study. Dr. Ira Helfand of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, who is the lead author of the study, said that such an occurrence would release clouds of radiation that will contaminate farmland far from the location of the actual blast. The shoot released from the blast would destroy crop yields by cooling global temperatures and reducing rainfall worldwide. Dr. Helfand pointed out that his study provides proof of global implications of a local nuclear war. As more than 925 million people around the world already suffer from malnutrition, an event of such as nuclear war and its consequences would result in global famine. “It is not just the arsenals of the U.S. and Russia that pose a threat to the whole world. Even these smaller arsenals pose an existential threat to our civilization, if not to our species. It would certainly end modern society as we know it,” said Dr. Helfand. The study, which was released at the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Chicago, will be published in the peer-reviewed journal Climate Change. –Top News 

Pakistan conducts its 5th missile test in 45 days: Pakistan on Tuesday tested its fifth nuclear-capable cruise missile with a 700km range that can deliver a one-ton nuclear warhead. Last month, India launched Agni V, a long-range ballistic missile. A statement issued by the military said the indigenously developed Cruise Missile Hatf-VII (Babur) is a low-flying, terrain hugging missile with high maneuverability and pinpoint accuracy. It can avoid being detected by radars. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads and has stealth capabilities. “It also incorporates the most modern cruise missile technology of Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM), Digital Scene Matching and Area Co-relation (DSMAC), which enhances its precision and effectiveness manifold,” the statement said. On May 31, Pakistan test fired nuclear-capable Hatf-VIII cruise missile with a range of more than 350 km. Islamabad tested its quick reaction tactical nuclear-capable Hatf-IX missile with a range of 60 km on May 29. Before that, Pakistan conducted a test of the nuclear-capable Hatf-III ballistic missile with a range of 290 km on May 10. On April 25 it tested an improved version of nuclear-capable Hatf-IV intermediate range ballistic missile with 1,000 km range. –Times of India

India tests Akash missile: India on Wednesday successfully test-fired it’s indigenously developed surface-to-air ‘Akash’ missile of Air Force version from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near here, the fifth trial of the anti-aircraft system in the last fortnight. “The Air Force version of Akash missile was test-fired from the ITR. The trial was successful and met all the mission objectives,” a senior defense official said. The anti-aircraft missile, with a strike range of 25 km and capable of carrying warhead of 60 kg, was test fired from a mobile launcher at launch complex-III of the ITR. The trial, which formed part of the country’s routine air defense exercises, was conducted at 0757 hrs, an official of Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) associated with the Akash missile project said. To re-validate the technology and operational efficacy of the missile, defense forces conducted the trial with logistic support provided by the ITR, the official said. The Akash weapon system, which has its Army version too, was inducted into the armed forces in 2008. –The Times of India

contribution Vicky G.