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Now that both India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons, the U.N. should enforce mandates that will prevent a nuclear confrontation between these two irrationally aggressive neighbors [WORLD, May 25]. Sanctions will not work--indeed, both countries had already weighed this consequence before recklessly pressing ahead with their nuclear preparations. What is needed to bring India and Pakistan to their senses is the threat of a multinational action that could end in a pre-emptive military strike against their nuclear-bomb making facilities. That would save us all from having nuclear war erupt over the Kashmir issue or some other jingoistic dispute. Fortunately, the threat of force made Iraq's Saddam Hussein back down. PAUL BEAUMONT Bangkok
Logically, developing countries like India and Pakistan, teeming with hungry, illiterate millions, should not waste their money building up nuclear arsenals. It is a strong economy--not a few nuclear explosions--that will earn a nation prestige in the world community. But politicians, whether Indian, Pakistani or American, rarely act logically. NANDINI DUTTA New Delhi
The U.S. and Russia combined have more than 34,000 warheads and have performed more than 1,700 nuclear tests. Yet they condemn a country that has a mere 65 nuclear warheads. This debate has little to do with nonproliferation and much to do with the perceived threat to international powers. ROSS HOOKER Neuenburg, Germany
We need to take a hard look at the logic behind the theory of nuclear deterrence, questioning the premise that the fear of mutual mass destruction will discourage the use of nuclear weapons. The hateful leaders of India and Pakistan have shown us that no nation, including the U.S., should be allowed the privilege of destroying the world in the name of its own survival and beliefs--Hinduism, Islam, democracy or whatever. Nuclear disarmament for all is the most urgent agenda. Otherwise, the year 2000 will surely have a black dawn. RUJAYA ABHAKORN Passau, Germany
America was prompt enough in exercising sanctions against India and Pakistan for going nuclear. Will the same sanctions apply to Israel if it decides to detonate an atomic device? Or will America come up with an excuse and follow the policy of double standards? FARHAN AHMED Karachi
Members of the nuclear club will not waste their arsenals on countries that do not possess the Bomb. In the fullness of time, they may blow one another out of existence and leave the world to those who have renounced such insanity. JAMES BATTERSHILL Hamber Place, B.C.
The national security of Pakistan and its need to perform nuclear tests outweighed American incentives not to carry them out. The U.S. should put itself in Pakistan's shoes and ask what it would have done if Russia had set off tests as India did. I am sure America would have reacted the same way that Pakistan did. MOHAMMAD FAHIM Karachi
For the past 50 years, we have heard what a great friend and ally Pakistan is to the U.S. But when the U.S., on the basis of this friendship, requested that Pakistan not carry out nuclear tests of its own, what did Pakistan do? It humiliated America in front of the whole world and went right ahead with its nukes. This proves that Pakistan is certainly no friend to the U.S. and no ally. BHARATI SINHA ROY Mumbai, India
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