Treaty opponents say the test ban would prevent the United States from testing the reliability of its nuclear weapons or developing new ones. They argue testing must continue as long as nuclear weapons are a key part of American security. But Defense Secretary Cohen says the United States has conducted one-thousand nuclear tests, and has the technical skill to monitor underground explosions. Both India and Pakistan have developed and recently tested nuclear weapons. The South Asian neighbors have fought several wars and remain locked in a dispute over the territory of Kashmir.
Experts also express concern about nuclear weapons programs in North Korea, Iran and Iraq.