Should Pakistan sign the CTBT?
If yes, then under what conditions?

vf@jang.com.pk

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Your Opinion

1. "When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President. Now I'm beginning to believe it. "
   Clarence Darrow
   
   The CTBT (Comprehenive Test Ban Treaty) should not be signed at any cost. If it is signed, then this will leave Pakistan in a fourth world country dominion. Signing the CTBT will stop us from progressing in the nuclear field, which also has a very useful implementations.
   
   Afshan Zafar
   
   
   
2. Not at all. Under no conditions
   
   Naeem Khan
   
   
   
3. There is no choice. This country has spent its riches to promote Islam all over world sometime even ignoring the domestic losses. In the recent balance of payment crisis, even the so called Islamic Development Bank was giving a bail out at 12.5% interest rate. Pakistan is cowed down, politically, economically and even morally. Let it be a servant to United States and why not to India also. Our dreams are dried up.
   
   Satheesan Varier
   
   
   
4. Why does it seem that all the Islamic countries are forced under the feet of America? In another aspect, Pakistan is a third world country. It desperately needs economic stability, economic progress as well as to have its currency gain monetary ground. Pakistan should not give in to the CTBT, unless India does the same and provides a dialogue between Pakistan and itself in resolving the issues of Kashmir once and for all.
   
   Muhammad Yasir Mirza
   Montreal, Canada
   
   
5. Pakistan should sign the CTBT, if all loans are written off!
   
   Anwar Hasnat
   
   
6. Paskistan should sell the Atomic programme at the following price:
   1. A permanent seat in the UN
   2. Solution to the Kashmir problem
   3. At least $10 billion from IMF/World Bank for its economy.
   
   Saleem Khan
   Houston, Texas
   
   
7. Sign the CTBT on the same conditions as India has stated.
   
   Hassan
   
   
   
8. Pakistan should sign CTBT to avoid sanctions. We are not in a position to survive without loans and international help. Some people say that India should sign first, but they forget that the Indian economy is far better than Pakistan’s, and India can survive without loans. I came to know through a TV debate that signing the CTBT does not mean to roll back nuclear programme. Are we planning to do another nuclear test in a near future? If not, then why not sign the CTBT? It is necessary for economic growth. We are an atomic power but we don’t have enough food to feed people. We should concentrate on our economy and keep our bombs in godowns. Educate the people and show them the real faces of their leaders who tell them that by signing the CTBT we are going to become American slaves. We should watch our position and make the right decisions.
   
   Dr. Roohullah
   
   
   
9. Pakistan should not sign CTBT no matter what. Even if India signs it we need to stand fast to our achievement. If the security requirements of the central Asia require that such treaties be existent, then the security requirement of the world requires the US, France, UK, China and Russia to abolish their arsenals of Intercontinental Ballistic missiles, which are the real threat to humanity- not the possession of technology by Pakistan or India. The only threat to the whole world by Pakistani nuclear programme is that since a Muslim majority state possesses this technology, it becomes a bit more difficult for the conspirators and enemies of Pakistan to carry on with their programs of destroying Pakistan and Islam.
   
   Mani
   USA
   
   
   
10. My response is "No" to the CTBT
    
    Syed Jamal Sharif
    
    
    
11. I think Pakistan should not sign the CTBT, unless all countries ratify it, and the 5 original nuclear states disarm completely of their nuclear arsenals. You cannot hold back the technology. Sooner or later other countries are going to follow suit. As long as there is no equality in dealing with nuclear and non-nuclear states, there is no use of any treaties, which widen the gap
    between haves and have-nots.
    
    Dr. Aamer Aziz
    Department of Radiology
    Nagasaki University Hospital
    Japan
    
    
    
12. Pakistan should not sign the CTBT because it's a plan of all Jews to crush Islamic countries like Iraq. Instead of taking loans from IMF, Nawaz Sharif and his companions should return all the loans they have taken. They should bring all the money of Benazir and Asif Zardari from foreign banks and should spend that entire amount on the welfare of the people of Pakistan.
    This is the only solution.
    
    Saadat
    
    
    
13. This question amounts to asking a hungry man what does he want, food or guns? We should not try to ape India. If we want to match them, and indeed beat them, we need intellectual development and a prerequisite for that is economic development first. It is quite obvious that the path we have so far pursued is not going to take us anywhere near to economic development. A nation may be able to build crude forms of, say, nuclear weapons, if most of its citizenry are squeezed and made to "eat grass", but an illiterate and undernourished nation can never really achieve anything great. I think it is time for us to stop acting like adolescents. We need leaders mature enough to tell an illiterate nation as to where our priorities should really lie. I think that there should have been no nuclear explosions on May 28th, and our position would have been slightly better today. Taking a stand on false notions of prestige such as "no signing of CTBT under pressure" are not going to do us any good. After all what kind of pressure is Pakistan able to sustain? This is no secret to the Nations of the world, only the unfortunate people of Pakistan are still being fed such simplistic slogans. Not signing the CTBT may amount to the proverbial straw on the
    camel's back. Let us be realistic.
    
    Dr. Tariq Khan
    Ministry of Health
    Fujairah, UAE
    
    
    
14. No, Pakistan must not sign CTBT until these super powers & Jewish mafia disarm themselves from nuclear weapons and until there is International Treaty where everyone agrees not to use nuclear weapons against any country or nation under any circumstances.
    
    Muhammad Nazir
    Miami, Florida
    USA
    
    
    
15. Yes, we need to sign CTBT only if India also agrees to do so. We have demonstrated our strength with honour and dignity by the grace of Allah (SWT). Now, we need to look for all possible means to stop further nuclear tests/proliferations in our region (Subcontinent). And try our best to improve our economy.
    
    M. Shah
    USA
    
    
    
16. We shouldn't sign CTBT to save the corrupt government from the outcome of their corruption. They are now scarred about their money, which is in foreign banks in the form of dollar. We shouldn't let anybody decide about the future of Pakistan, as it seems that no one is capable of ruling this God-gifted country.
    
    Babur Saleem
    New Mexico, USA
    
    
    
17. Signing the CTBT should be carried out in the same way as nuclear bombs were detonated. Be it columnists, industralialists, agromen or religious leaders, representatives from all walks of life should be taken into confidence. Once decided, there should be a non-regrettable decision.
    
    Ali Hammad Akbar
    
    
    
18. To sign CTBT we have to make sure that our nuclear program will continue and no foreign inspector will come to inspect our nuclear sites. Also our leaders should try to get some deals on our foreign debts and try to negotiate on some immediate loans.
    
    Ali Ramji
    
    
    
19. No ways! Tell our leaders to do their jobs like men.
    
    Amir
    
    
    
20. Every one knows that signing CTBT is bad for Pakistan. Once CTBT is signed Pakistan's capacity to acquire or enhance weapons of nuclear technology will be constrained. Pakistan is being forced into signing CTBT. We are under financial pressure from loan giving countries and IMF and our government is extremely shortsighted. Our present rulers will most likely bargain the national sovereignty for a few dollars. The price being offered ranges from $5 to $25 billion and is too big a sum for the money-hungry leadership to resist. It will be unfortunate if our leaders accept this and sign CTBT. It is a matter of principle; we can not and must not compromise against the sovereignty of Pakistan. I will vote ‘no’ for CTBT and will call upon Pakistanis to throw out the leaders who are ready to compromise on our freedom.
    
    Naveed Khan
    USA
    
    
    
21. It’s a death plan for the first and the only Islamic nuclear power. It’s the only pride we have. Is it worth 3 or 4 billion dollars?
    Pakistan can earn more by selling this technology to other countries. Its just that our leaders have to be countrymen not American-appointed rulers.
    
    Ahmad Raza
    
    
    
22. Yes, Pakistan must sign the CTBT in order to show the world that we are a peace loving country; that we are neither fundamentalist nor terrorist; that we carried the test because our security and very existence was threatened, and that we will carry the test again only if our national security is at stake.
    
    Inam Ullah Khan
    Tokyo
    
    
    
23. Pakistan must sign the CTBT for humanity, regardless of whether India signs or not.
    
    Farid Ahmed
    
    
    
24. The economic conditions of Pakistan, devaluation of our currency, the CTBT issue and regional peace are the main reasons why the government is trying to be elusive
    
    Irfanullah Tunio
    Hyderabad
    Pakistan
    
    
    
25. Pakistan should sign the CTBT under conditions where she is given the same rights as the US, and has also a veto power in UN.
    
    Naveed
    Manchester
    
    
    
26. Signing the CTBT shall tantamount to signing death warrants for the country and shattering the dreams of the Muslim world. For God's sake do not sign the treaty. Power will come and go but Pakistan has to live forever; please don't compromise for
    little rewards.
    
    M.A.Khan
    
    
    
27. No, Pakistan should not sign the CTBT, until India also agrees to sign.
    
    Anjum Iqbal
    UK.
    
    
    
28. No way! How could anyone sign on his death order? We are an independent nation no matter whether we have dollars or not. This is our faith that life is with the order of Allah not the America.
    
    Ashfaq
    
    
    
29. Yes, Pakistan should sign the CTBT, Kashmir problem should be resolved according to the UNO solution.
    
    Mr. Najeeb
    
    
    
30. Pakistan must not sign on the CTBT, because Pakistan recently has taken a great step of Atomic blast and would lose power if it did so.
    
    Wasim Ahmad
    London
    
    
    
31. Its time Pakistan stopped pleasing the street demagogues who whip up the masses with unsubstantiated promises, and started playing with the big boys of global politics. The facts are simple. There is no global Islamic consensus on anything. The so-called "ummah" exists solely for the purpose of propaganda. We as Pakistanis, should revert to the secular state we were supposed to be. What have the Arabs and our other so-called Muslim brethren done for us? Nothing. If it actually came down to a nuclear war or for that matter any other conventional war with the Indians, do you really believe that Pakistan would survive? What we need is a good old putsch, and the establishment of a National Socialist government that will purge of all the corrupt politicians, mullahs, and industrialists that are all the scum of a corrupt capitalist democratic system.
    
    T. Chaudhri
    USA
    
    
    
32. Pakistan is a peace-loving nation. It is unfortunate that we live with hostile neighbours. If we are to sign the CTBT there has to be some mechanism to ensure that our hostile neighbours follow suit.
    
    Abbas Naqvi
    
    
    
33. This is a highly volatile subject. Pakistan should not compromise against its development by signing the CTBT.
    
    Omar Riaz
    
    
    
34. Why does Pakistan need to explode nuclear devices in future? In the world of science it is a must to prove your theory by experiments and gather actual data. I am surprised to see that the Pakistani government is even paying attention to the US demand of signing the C.T.B.T. How many nuclear tests were carried out by the US, 10? 20? 50? Several hundreds to improve technology and safety of these devices! Yes Pakistan will be more than glad to sign the C.T.B.T if U.S is ready to share the information it has gathered from those nuclear tests for the sake of humanity and atmosphere.
    
    SY Baig
    
    
    
35. Signing the CTBT would be a more realistic thing to do, and we could join the rest of the world community in doing the right thing. After all we can test future systems just as successfully by using powerful computer simulations. I was glad to see that the prime Minister made the first move and led the Indians into calling for an end to testing. Do my fellow Pakistanis realise how bitterly opposed the rest of the world, especially Europe, Japan and the US really is to this testing business? And they make us stand out as some sort of troublesome, fanatic and unstable nation that refuses to comply with international concerns, I am sure that after the PM's bold and very mature announcement that perception will considerably change.
    
    Tariq Shah
    San Francisco CA.
    
    
    
36. Don't sign the CTBT. Work hard to defend our freedom. CTBT is aimed at permanently making the superiority of the enemies of Pakistan official. We need to defend ourselves. The price is going to be heavy. We should form regional and strategic alliances as the world has just begun to respect our capabilities.
    
    Azmat Shari
    
    
    
37. I think Pakistan's more important problem is hunger, poverty and lack of development. We cannot make nuclear devices on the expense of increase in flour prices, for example. So we should sign the CTBT if India does so and try to improve relationship with them.
    
    Shakeel Ahmed
    
    
    
38. I do not understand why we Pakistani Muslims are so cowardly; our leadership is no good at all. As a nation our faith in God is becoming questionable. If we believe in God then we should have no fear of any kind on this planet, make friendship with neighbouring countries, give up on the Kashmir issue, should not sign on CTBT, and fight against western evil oppression.
    
    Mukhtiar Ahmad
    California
    
    
    
39. Never sign the CTBT
    
    Aftab Ahmed Parwaz
    UK
    
    
    
40. Pakistan should not sign the CTBT. The poor people of Pakistan will not be any better served, and any economic aid received as a result of signing the treaty will be eaten up by the dishonest rulers of the country. It is a Jewish plot to keep the Muslim countries weak so that it can act as
    enforcer on behalf of the United States' interests. A simple rule to remember "if USA wants Pakistan to sign, it is not good for Pakistan".
    
    Ibrar Khan
    Canada
    
    
    
41. Pakistan should not sign any nuclear accord with any country/agency in the world. The knowledge that Pakistan possesses atomic power has served as a deterrent and saved Pakistan from India in the past. It will also save from Indian hedgemony in the future.
    
    Dr. Ataullah Chaudhry
    USA
    
    
    
42. Not at all!
    
    Alman Chaudhry
    
    
    
43. Instead of begging IMF, Pakistan should ask for at least $20 billion from the G7 to preserve, and control the nukes like Russia did. And if America fails to furnish this amount of money then Pakistan should sell its technology to Libya, Syria or any potential customer to enhance its economy. If the USA can sell it to Israel and Britain, and Canada to India, then surely we can also sell our nukes and technology to any one. And this is for Nawaz Sharif. Instead of getting the $1.5 billion bailout at the rate of 12.5% he should return the money which he owes to the people of Pakistan. If we just get our loans back we can survive easily without IMF.
    
    Khalid Ansari
    Dayton OH
    
    
    
44. Are we going to lose in some way if we sign it unconditionally? How can one answer the question if you do not provide the conditions, which should be met before Pakistan may sign? We would like an intelligent discussion among well-informed individuals rather than a situation in which a blind tries to lead a blind.
    
    Zahid Imran M.D.
    Naveed Malik M.D.
    
    
    
45. My answer is, of course, no. After signing this treaty it is possible that we are enforced to sign some other treaties. And at that time if we say ‘no’, we will be in the same condition as we are right now. So it’s better to say no at this time to secure our future.
    
    Waseem Khalil
    Chicago, USA.
    
    
    
46. Yes! I think Pakistan should sign the CTBT because we don't have a choice. The politcians of our country don't care and utimately it will be the commom man who will be in misery.
    
    Asma
    University of Rochester
    USA
    
    
    
47. Yes. The big nations are bossy and our nation cannot afford another stupid decision at the cost of the future of our younger generation. We have destroyed our country and future by electing self centered politicians. We have professionals and technocrats to think and suggest the right proposals and terms in this matter. We should use them as proxies of MNAs.
    
    Usmani
    

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