Treaty of tensions: The NPT’s role in a divided nuclear World                                                Author – Majid Nabi Burfat

This article throws a harsh spotlight on the glaring cracks within the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a pact once celebrated as a bulwark against nuclear catastrophe but now hanging by a thread. What was meant to be a fair deal between nuclear and non-nuclear states has morphed into a lopsided arrangement where the powerful hold all the cards while the rest are shackled by restrictions. The NPT legitimizes the arsenals of five nuclear-armed nations yet clamps down on others, fueling resentment, mistrust, and geopolitical friction. Nowhere is this double standard more visible than in the Middle East, where Israel armed to the teeth yet outside the NPT is protected by the West, while Iran despite being a signatory is boxed in by sanctions, sabotage and diplomatic isolation. The treaty’s disarmament promise rings hollow, as the nuclear giants mainly the US and Russia continue upgrading their arsenals, proving that the so-called commitment to a nuclear-free world is more lip service than a real goal.

As tensions spiral between Israel and Iran, the treaty’s flaws stand fully exposed, serving as a grim reminder that selective justice in global security is a ticking time bomb. The ease with which North Korea walked out of the NPT and openly built nuclear weapons showcases just how toothless this agreement has become. With great powers hijacking the treaty to suit their strategic whims, the world teeters on the edge of a renewed arms race. The author argues that unless the global community overhauls the NPT—making disarmament legally binding, enforcing nuclear transparency even on non-signatories like Israel and India, and introducing independent monitoring mechanisms—the dream of nuclear restraint will stay a pipe dream. The clock is ticking, and without urgent reforms, humanity might soon wake up to a world where nuclear deterrence collapses into nuclear disaster.

Overview:

This article is an attentive call about the crumbling global nuclear order. It highlights how power politics, hypocrisy and selective enforcement have turned the NPT from a symbol of peace into a badge of discrimination. It demands that the world rethink how nuclear governance works before the fragile status quo explodes into an uncontrollable crisis.

NOTES:

The article shows the reality of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It highlights how it has devolved into a tool of power politics rather than a shield against nuclear catastrophe. It was originally designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons while promoting peaceful use of nuclear energy, but over time it has institutionalized a global double standard. The treaty allows five nuclear-armed states to maintain and even modernize their arsenals while imposing strict restrictions on others, particularly non-Western nations. This imbalance is glaringly visible in the Middle East, where Israel despite being a non-signatory maintains a clandestine nuclear arsenal without facing international repercussions, whereas Iran, a signatory is subjected to relentless sanctions, inspections and diplomatic isolation. The disarmament clause under Article VI remains toothless as major powers like the US and Russia not only avoid disarmament but actively invest in upgrading their nuclear capabilities, with the US alone committing over $1.5 trillion for modernization. The article also points out how North Korea’s withdrawal from the NPT in 2003 followed by its successful development of nuclear weapons, exposed the treaty’s glaring enforcement flaws. Legal loopholes, vague commitments, and the reliance on the UN Security Council which itself is dominated by nuclear-armed members have further paralyzed the treaty’s ability to ensure fairness and security. The ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran act as a sharp reminder of how these systemic failures amplify regional tensions and global risks. The author stresses that unless the NPT is reformed with concrete enforcement mechanisms, transparent accountability, and binding disarmament schedules, the world could soon spiral into a dangerous new nuclear arms race, far more chaotic and fragmented than before.

Relevant CSS Subjects or Topics:

• International Relations – Arms control, nuclear diplomacy, global governance
• Current Affairs – Israel-Iran conflict, global security threats
• International Law – Treaty obligations, disarmament laws, legal loopholes
• Pakistan Affairs – Nuclear policy, global non-proliferation impacts on Pakistan
• Global Issues – Arms race, regional conflicts, proliferation risks

Notes for Beginners:

This article explains that the NPT was meant to stop countries from building nuclear weapons and promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy. But in reality it only favors a few powerful nations like the US, Russia and their allies, letting them keep huge nuclear arsenals while restricting others like Iran and Pakistan. For example Israel never signed the NPT but secretly holds hundreds of nuclear bombs, yet faces no punishment. Meanwhile, Iran which signed the treaty and allows inspections faces constant sanctions. Another example is North Korea which left the treaty in 2003 and built nuclear weapons without any serious consequences. This imbalance shows that the NPT is failing to create fairness and security in the world.

Facts and Figures:

• The USA and Russia hold over 90 percent of the world’s nuclear warheads.
• The USA has pledged over $1.5 trillion for nuclear arsenal upgrades.
• Israel is estimated to possess 80 to 400 nuclear warheads despite not being an NPT member.
• North Korea left the NPT in 2003 and successfully developed nuclear weapons.
• The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was signed by over 90 countries in 2017 as an alternative to the NPT.

To sum up, This article shows the reality on how the NPT once a symbol of global unity against nuclear war, now stands battered by double standards, loopholes and political manipulation. Without urgent reforms to enforce fairness, transparency and real disarmament, the world risks sleepwalking into a new and far deadlier nuclear age. It’s high time the global community ditches hollow promises and starts walking the talk before the cracks in this fragile system lead to irreversible disaster.

Difficult Words and Meanings:

• Brinkmanship – Risky tactics pushing situations to the verge of disaster (Synonym: Provocation, Antonym: Caution)
• Annihilation – Complete destruction (Synonym: Obliteration, Antonym: Preservation)
• Ambiguity – Uncertainty or vagueness (Synonym: Obscurity, Antonym: Clarity)