RazorMC
SENIOR MEMBER
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The thermonuclear test of 1998 was a fizzle. While the boosted fission trigger probably worked, the second stage could not be ignited properly and it fizzled.
India will have to conduct another set of tests to prove its claim that it has a thermonuclear device ready. India has voluntarily imposed a test ban. Also, its agreement with US would be breached and nullified if India conducts another set of nuclear tests.
This is the dilemma. Whatever your claims about thermonuclear weapons, without further tests, these would be untested devices and its deterrence value would almost be zilch. Agni 5s and 12000 KM future missiles would be mere shurlis, unless fresh tests are conducted.
India has probably thought this out too. Their nuclear-sub acquisition didn't raise many eye-brows and neither will missile tests. What response did that "Smiling Buddha" generate?
And the problem is not the test bans or the international response (which has always been null anyways), but India reaching the technological level of actually testing the H-bomb.