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Synopsis India's nuclear tests in 1998 triggered off worldwide reactions ranging from utter condemnation to crippling economic sanctions for the country.  Both western and Indian scholars joined in the almost unanimous censure of the government pointing out that the tests were the result of domestic political compulsion rather than external security exigencies.  Ashok Kapur negates such criticisms while arguing that the tests were long overdue reactions to Chinese, Pakistani and US strategic moves in the subcontinent.  This volume, with an updated preface, takes into account emerging global security issues in the aftermath of September 11 and the 2003 Iraq war and underlines the need for a nuclear India in the face of continued cross-border terrorism and regional instability.  This book will stimulate debate among academics and policy-makers, as well as among journalists and general readers.