On 18 May 1974, India
conducted its first nuclear test in the Rajhistan desert which was
labeled as peaceful explosion (for civil applications). In short,
nuclear explosive was tested as a super dynamite for mega projects of
the civil engineering. Prior to the test of India, almost all nuclear
powers had considered using nuclear explosions for civil engineering
mega projects. With the adoption of Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(CTBT), all nuclear testing has been banned, whether military or
civil. As both India and Pakistan have still not signed/ratified the
CTBT, they can at least theoretically conduct nuclear explosions for
peaceful purposes.
Another international
treaty to consider is the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). In fact
Article 5 of NPT allows peaceful nuclear explosions (for adhering
countries without nuclear arms) [1]. But as India had not signed NPT,
it had to face sanctions. Although announced as a peaceful test, it
triggered a strong reaction from the nuclear states. Soon after the
Indian test of 18 May 1974, nuclear states formed Nuclear Suppliers
Group (NSG) which was initially known as London Club. NSG aimed to
control and regulate the export of nuclear-related technologies.
Nuclear explosions can be
used to make artificial lakes for hydroelectric power stations, to
blow open Thar coal mines, Iron ore mines in Swat and many other
mineral mines in Balochistan. They can be used to build deep sea
ports on the Sindh / Balochistan coast and also to build large canals
from the coast to the Inland cities. These canals can
also be linked to inland submarine bases for the Navy submarine
fleet. Belgium is known for its long canals from the coast to the
inland cities like Brugge. During the WW-I, German Navy used this
canal system to hide its submarines in the inland bases of Belgium.
