IPPNW & IDPD condemn decision of Donald Trump to withdraw from 1987 INF Treaty

Ludhiana, August 4, 2019: International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and Indian Doctors and Peace and Development (IDPD) have condemned the decision of President Donald Trump to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

In a statement here today Dr Arun Mitra – Co President IPPNW, Dr S S Soodan – President IDPD and Dr Shakeel Ur Rahman – General Secretary IDPD, said this would turn back the clock to a dangerous era of cold war.

They added this vital landmark treaty entered into force during the Cold War, at the height of elevated tensions between the United States and Russia. As a result over 2,600 intermediate-range missiles were eliminated by the two major nuclear powers. This treaty played a critical role in ending the Cold War, and it increased pressure on both countries to reduce their arsenals. Trump’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Treaty would set a devastating precedent for all nuclear armed countries to renege on their disarmament responsibilities.

Further, they said that no nation on earth would have an adequate mass emergency or health response in the event of a nuclear exchange, and all nations have an interest in preventing the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from the use of nuclear weapons.

“As we approach the 74th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, we are reminded of the true human cost using nuclear weapons”, they said, adding, “It is time that all nuclear-armed countries negotiate for total elimination of their nuclear arsenals.”