Pakistan's India Infatuation
There are signs that Pakistan is walking the same path of stretched truth and deception that has been its core foreign policy strategy in the past. According to a report published in the New York Times, the United States is accusing Pakistan of illegally modifying American-made missiles to expand its capability to strike land targets. Many assume the ultimate target of this modification to be India, the arch rival of Pakistan since 1947.
The U.S sold Harpoon antiship missiles to Pakistan during the peak of the Cold War in mid 1980s. The Reagan administration also announced a $3.2 billion aid package to Pakistan at the time to counter Russian forces in Afghanistan. It is believed that a major chunk of that aid was spent on Pakistan's nuclear program.
The U.S has also accused Pakistan of modifying PC-3 aircraft for land-attack missions. Both of these allegations, if true, are a violation of the Arms Control Export Act. (The U.S provided 165 Harpoon missiles to Pakistan during the period from 1985 to 1988.)
The Harpoon antiship missiles are used in conventional warfare and cannot be modified easily. Robert Hewson, a weapons expert, told the Times that Harpoon missiles lack the necessary features to be modified into a modern weapon. He, however, did not give any opinion on the modification of PC-3 aircraft. These aircraft are relatively new and can be modified with the right technology. Pakistani military engineers, with strong technical support from China, might have carried out some alterations to the aircraft.
Pakistanis are also asking for the transfer of Predator Drone technology. These aircraft have proved to be successful in surveillance and attacks against the Taliban and al-Qaeda leadership in Pakistan's mountainous tribal areas.
Even if the allegations are false, Pakistan is certainly amassing weapons of mass destruction. The decades old animosity with India -- despite the recent dialog process -- remains a major issue. Pakistani intelligence authorities were believed to be behind the deadly attacks in Mumbai. The Pakistani spy agency (ISI) is also accused of fueling anti-state elements in the disputed territory of Kashmir.
Pakistan's nuclear program, despite international concerns, is growing at alarming speed. Uranium enrichment and weapons development progresses at multiple sites located near the Indian border. The Pakistani army is facing a grave internal threat of Taliban but it still considers India to be its biggest enemy.
The Obama administration, on the other hand, is following a softer approach towards Pakistan. A $7.5 billion aid package awaits Congressional approval. This aid is in addition to more than $230 million donated for the internally displaced persons of the Swat valley. Richard Holbrooke, the U.S attaché for Afghanistan and Pakistan, asked for donations from the European and Islamic countries but no one came for help. The displaced persons are now returning home and Americans aid agencies are helping them to rebuild their lives.
The case of Pakistan is really a complex one. The U.S has already 'donated' over $10 billion to the previous Musharraf regime, which apparently spent that money buying weapons for a future war against India. Some of the money was pocketed by the corrupt Pakistani officials as well, due to the fact that officials did not provide any account of even a single cent to the U.S authorities.
Given this history, the Obama administration plans to appoint special auditors to monitor the disbursement of U.S aid. This would at least ensure an honest spending on education and health, as promised by President Obama. The Obama administration also needs to put pressure on Pakistan to end anything that could be seen as saber rattling in the region. India is not a threat to Pakistan, Islamic militancy is. If its leaders are still not able to overcome their 'infatuation' with India, then it could prove disastrous for regional stability.
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For the first time in history, A nation-state (Pakistan) facing extermination from India while the world either cackles or looks away-unlike the Armenians, Tibetans, or Rwandans-have the power to destroy the world, The ultimate justice?
I wish Pakistan would impose an "Anti-terrorism co-operation embargo" upon the United States, Dont support Pakistani security and right to self-defence and your all alone in your Afghan misadventure.
Pakistan has dismantled the USSR in Afghan plains, If self-preservation is an American instinct they would do well to keep Pakistan on its side, Lest the US faces a USSR like fate.
To maintain peace and deter Afghan-Indain revanchism and irredentism, I have advocated before that Pakistan adopt a policy of massive retaliation with nuclear weapons as a “last resort” against nations whose military attacks threaten its existence, and possibly against other targets as well.
Pakistan should adopt a stated policy to destroy the entire sub-continent if its existence is threatened, Not just India but also Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan et al.
If Pakistan is threatened, It will take all South Asia goes with it!
You can misguide the American public opinion by saying India is not a threat, but you can't change history. The people of Pakistan know India is the enemy.
"I wish Pakistan would impose an "Anti-terrorism co-operation embargo" upon the United States"------"Not just India but also Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan et al. "------"If Pakistan is threatened, It will take all South Asia goes with it!"----
Hard boiled has gone soft in the head.
How can you not know that you're the BAD GUY when you say stuff like that.
And FYI Pakistan hasn't done squat against the soviets or terrorism. They have just made things worse.You are right US shudn't ask for your cooperation.USA should just punch you in the face and keep moving.
Central points are:
Does Pakistan have the right to defend itself against India or anyone else?
Obviously YES. But when money is not coming, one thing a responsible household does is not to blow away the FOREIGN AID money on defense/offense operations. I have no idea how much money is spent on the ILLEGAL modification of harpoon missiles by Pakistan or Uranium enrichment. Pakistan is thus keeping its anti-India campaign full speed--militarily and diplomatically. Enrichment of Uranium and pursuing weapons development using aid money is surprising if unemployment is the reason for terrorism.
Is India an aggressor against Pakistan?
There have been several articles in pakistan media by former Pakistan defence chiefs that India has never attacked Pakistan--in 1971 Pakistan provided opportunity to India----by killing 2.5million Hindu and Muslim next door and millions refugees pouring into India for remarkable political stupidity of Pakistan at that time. For the record, the first attack in 1971 was air attacks by Pakistan against India. Read a book on 1965 fiasco also that normally is taught to Pakistan as an act of aggression by India. The reality is Pakistan attacked India.
Pakistanis need to dig deep and see what really happened in 1971 that led to the creation of Bangladesh? Was India forced into it? Did India plan it? I have no idea why they are so scared if they really are concerned about Muslim (forget Hindu) brothers in now bangladesh and also of Indian Muslims like me.
Someone said here that Pakistan has the right to set its defense priorities but not with American taxpayer money.
I agree. Ask your government why is it arranging shady secret deals to bring corrupt men to power in Pakistan, using the hard earned American taxpayer money to pay bribes?
And who says what America pays in aid is charity? No one forced Washington to pay anything. Your taxpayer money-managers are paying Pakistan to promote American interest. While Pakistan accepts to help America, this doesn't mean US can go and fill Kabul with Indians and other anti-Pakistan forces and pretend at the same time to be an ally of Pakistan.
Between 2004 and 2007, the media in the US was fed official leaks to grease one of the most virulently anti-Pakistan media campaigns, dwarfing the ones launched against other countries at different times. Hardly a behavior becoming of a real ally.
Washington has the right to prepare India to be the new Anglo-American slave-soldier in Asia assigned to ward off China and others, but you can't do it at Pakistan's expense, aid or no aid.
To an Indian friend here, in the history of Pak-American relations, Pakistan has consistently been a sincere ally to American interest. The only reason that this relationship continues today is that people in the know in Washington, those who know history, understand this and are often sorry for the shabby way that Washington has often treated Islamabad.
Someone made the legitimate point that Pakistan should be able to set its own defence priorities. True but not with my money. US taxpayers should not be funding the Pakistani military.
Pakistani military dominates every facet of their society. India as a constant threat is essential for them to justify the expansive and expensive military industrial complex that is Pakistan today. For this reason, it will always find direct or indirect means to keep cross-border relations tense and its population scared shtless.
I plan to write to my congressman and senator not to throw good money after bad. Fool us once....
Bengalis in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) were being mistreated by predominantly Punjabi West Pakistanis, trying to shove Urdu down their throats as the national language when everyone in Dhaka wanted to speak in Bengali. If anything, Pakistan dug its own grave in Bangladesh by executing Bangladeshi intellectuals Nazi style...
It is rightly emphasized in this article that US military and civil aid has been used by Pakistan for fighting against India.Even after provocation like Mumbai carnage India did not attack Pakistan ,In past also It is Pakistan which has been aggressor always; starting from 1947, when it is send its regular army in grab of tibals in Kashmir ,next in 1965 Pakistan attacked India through well planned scheme code named as "Operation Gibralter" ,Lastly Kargil is well known to whole world.Regarding Bangladesh ,Pakistani Journalist and Imminent Public figure admit that rein of attrocity was committed by pakistani army in East Pakistan of that time( Bangladesh government still wants to prosecute people who helped Pakistan army to perpetrate the crime at that time) which sent millions of refugees to India and India was forced to intervene.It was unnatural to continue as one nation when both parts of Pakistan was separated geographycally and culturally and by language .I think at this time both Bangladesh and Pakistan have reconciled to the reality and the earlier acrimony have subsided for the good of everyone.
So Pakistan was double crossing US in Afghanistan in the 1980s too by diverting aid to bolser defense against India?
This is ridiculous. Contrary to common thinking, it is Pakistan that pulled an initially reluctant US to support the war against the Soviets. Or is it okay to twist facts to serve an agenda, Mr. Khan?
And who says that the US columnists such as yourself are a better judge than the Pakistanis on what constitutes security threat to them?
If you didn't know, India invaded Pakistan [in East Pakistan] exploiting a domestic Pakistani election dispute and helped break up the country by supporting a proxy terror militia. This happened in 1971. It was an unprovoked Indian act of aggression against its smaller neighbor.
Pakistanis saw how India will not hesitate to attack Pakistan without provocation if a chance presents itself. So why shouldn't the Pakistanis prepare against a treacheous larger neighbor?
Why should Pakistanis stop securing themselves against an aggressor that loses no opportunity to hit Pakistan [In Afghanistan, under the watchful eyes of the US military, Indians have been found using Afghan soil to stir trouble in adjoining southwestern Pakistani regions.]
It is one thing to defend an American interest in pushing the Pakistani army to do America's bidding in Afghanistan and forget about India, but please do not offer this American viewpoint as the only legitimate angle on the story. Pakistanis have the right to have their own viewpoint about defending their homeland.
Right to defend homeland is one thing, but illegally modifying weapons and fooling the US which has been Pakistan's close ally is another.
No excuses about supposed Indian aggression towards Pakistan can condone these acts.
Taliban did not attack Pakistan in 1971 and occupied its Province of East Bengal and then turned into Bangladesh. Bangladesh is still considered in India as her finest moment and Pakistan cannot allow anything like that to happen again. So please stop lecturing us on who our enemies are?
http://real-politique.blogspot.com
Nobody is lecturing you on anything because it is obvious to the world not that you guys are not interested in improving the situation.1971 happened because of the genocide perpetrated by the Pak govt on the then East Pak. Do you think it was practical to have a nation with the whole of India in the middle? Pakistan cannot control its existing borders.Do you think you'd be better off with Bangladesh?
A little piece of advice( and this is not a lecture).Worry about your citizens and not the establishment that has proven time and again that it doesn't give a squat about its people. Nobody is saying that Pakistani people are evil...just that the Pakistani establishment is far from honorable and is least interested in securing its citizens.
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