23. indian nuclear threat and pakistan

Upload: murtazee

Post on 30-May-2018

217 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

  • 8/14/2019 23. Indian Nuclear Threat and Pakistan

    1/4

    96

    Emporium Current Essays

    Emporium Current Essays

    97

    Tension is growing on the Pak-India borders what with India all set to launch anotheratomic explosion to check the credibility of her nuclear device. The news is based on theevidence gathered by the American spy satellite. The satellite recorded extraordinaryactivities around Pokran in Rajistan where India detonated its first nuclear device on May18,1974. Although, Indian officials have denied all these reports altogether and are calledthem speculations. Same sort of statements were given by the Indian officials at the timeof first explosion. The US congress report revealed that India has the capability todevelop its nuclear arms within on time. And later reports also confirmed that India is

    preparing for another atomic explosion, therefore, it is not a matter of speculations but amatter of fact.

    The South Asian region has the great geo-political importance for the world. The balanceof power in this region is always shaky. The two major regional countries, Pakistan andIndia, have fought three wars and are struggling for power since the division of the Sub-Continent. The mania for acquiring nuclear weapons is as old as the time Bhutto soughtfunding for a plutonium reprocessing plant in 1965 followed by India's commissioning aplutonium reprocessing plant in 1964. By the time this factor of nuclearisation became acrucial necessity for both countries. This is why that both are reluctant to sign Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and stipulate the possession of nuclear weapons1 with their

    security.

    No'.v the question is that if India goes ahead for conducting its second nuclear explosionthen what should be Pakistan's reaction. Traditional rivals, Pakistan and India alwaysfollowed each other's military intentions for developing their army competency. If onegoes to acquire weapons from one country then the other will go to next country for thecounter-measures. Thus, the question of power has become vital for both and they alwaystried to counter each other.

    It is fact that both countries are now trying more for power arrct nuclear capabilities ascompared to past but since the start of

    nuclear race no major armed conflict took place between them. But during the last decadethe tension between both sides reached at crisis level twice and that could have convertedin full-fledged war and two sides could use their all means to survive.

    First, when India conducted it military exercise sin December 1986 -- January 1987 in thename of "Brastack Exercises" were more serious and could be triggered the war betweenthe two*countrics. The exercise were one of the big best of its nature in South Asian

  • 8/14/2019 23. Indian Nuclear Threat and Pakistan

    2/4

    region involving about 10 division military forces. Pakistan alarmed by this situation andthought the situation a great threat for the sovereignty of the country, developed its forcesalong with the Indian borders. Later on, both moved so closer that a minor incident inthose prevailing circumstances could wage war between them. After long negotiationsboth countries agreed to withdraw their forces from borders to their respective positions.

    The crisis was the worst in relationship of both countries sine 1971.

    Secondly the relation of both nations came at crisis level again when Pakistan begin it'sexercises "Zerb-e-Momin" in the early months of 1990. That again created the situationthat had brought the two sides on the edge of another arm conflict. Alarmed by thatdangerous turn in Indo-Pak relations the Bush administration launched its successfuldiplomatic effects to calm down the both countries and stop the situation becameworsening.

    The anxiety on both sides is content feature until the problem and issues like Kashmirand Siachin should no be settled. The negotiations and -bilateral talks can abstain them

    from an immediate war but have not long lasting effects in their respective stand.Although, the question of following the Indian action is a crucial one for Pakistan. Doingso, Pakistan would have to face a huge international pressure and could might face tradesanctions too. But, not countering the action might generate morecomplications for Pakistan. Obviously, it would mean to giver India , a free hand to enjoyits nuclear programme. And secondly it would invoke strong reaction among the peoplewho relate the vital issue of National security with the nuclear weapons to deter theirtraditional rival India.

    In this context Islamabad should have a close look on two dimension: American attitudetowards ^Pakistan in past years and possible change in Indian behaviour if'BJP come intopower in forthcoming elections in India.

    There are always ups and downs in the relations between Islamabad and Washington.Americans always altered their policies towards Pakistan due to its changing geo-politicalimportance and

    -'**:98

    Emporium Current Essays

    regarding their interests in minds. As interests increased in the region they admiredPakistan's policies and provide financial support to her. Pakistan had stretched her handfor friendship towards America when she provided Air Basis to United States to makeoperational its global containment policy against the Soviet Union. But Pakistan soonfound American's changing colour when Washington signed a Security Pact withNew Delhi in 1962 after the Sino-Indian war to help India against China in future.Obviously that Pact provided the bases on India for another armed conflict between both.The resentment among Pakistan's people grew when America stayed aloof in the war of1971 and did not respond , favourable for Pakistan.

  • 8/14/2019 23. Indian Nuclear Threat and Pakistan

    3/4

    American always behave clearly and used Pakistan as a pup state on every front. UnitedStates always adopted discriminatory strict policies towards the nuclear states byamending Foreign Assistance Act for the countries to leave or cap their nuclearcapabilities twice. First she was entrapped by Glen Symington Amendment in 19 and

    deprived from all the assistance from America, she was pendent on. But soon escaped1979 due to the Russian invasion in Afghanistan. And secondly American assistance wasagain suspended in 1990 under the Pressler Amendment when refused to issue acertificate non-nuclear state to Pakistan keeping in mind that Russian forces had startedtheir withdrawal from

    Afghan soil. And lastly a narrow escape to be called terrorist state

    due to which Pakistan would had to face trade embargo against her.

    American legislation was not bad idea to discourage the

    countries going for nuclear weapons/But due to its improper

    application, especially in South Asian has became discriminatory

    xand Pakistan have paid the price heavy.

    The traditional rival of Pakistan, India have a Foreign

    policy with objective to keep Pakistan weak, under pressure and

    defenceless. The general elections of 1996 in India would be the real

    .test for the future relations between Pakistan ancd.Inilfa, Indian

    attitude .towards minorities and as well as for the Indian policies in

    .... the South Asian region.

    The rise of Hindu extremists in form of $Hiv SenHand , Bharti JantaParty (BJP) in pastfew years, have eventually ; weekend the Congress I's position in the country. And it iswidely !

    hoped that Hindu extremists will emerge as a strong wing in the country., Hindu extremists always' adopted a very sharp attitude *.,

    towards the minorities. Especially, the Muslim of India always Jisuflcrcd due .to theirreligions from the hands of the Hindus. y

    Emporium Current Essays

  • 8/14/2019 23. Indian Nuclear Threat and Pakistan

    4/4

    99

    Destruction of Babri Mosque and in Hindu-Muslim riots in various citiev of India,Muslims suffered heavy casualties and loss of properties. BJP have the intention to

    change the pasture of so-called secularism to a pure Hindu state. Where the minoritieswould have no place to.live with their religious entity. The Hindu extremists are alsobiased towards the acquisition of atomic weapons to threat Pakistan due to its religiousposture.

    #

    Indian premier Gowda Deve is in .vulnerable position against the Hindu extremists and isstruggling to retain the premiership in harmony. This is physiological fact that popularityrating in both Pakistan and India is related with the aggressiveness v against rivalcountry. More aggressive the pasture adopts by someone, the higher is his popularity

    rating. Therefore, Gowda, a weak premier in the centre, can use an atomic explosion asan election stunt to win the-sympathies and support of his public. Whatever the case maybe, nuclear weapons in the hands of Hindus would mean a constant threat for Pakistan'ssecurity in future.

    Therefore, the 19% elections should have grave effects on the Indian policies from so-catted' secularism to Hindu fundamentalism, and on the Indian political dimensions in theSouth Asian region, and if BJP or Shiv Sena will come into power in the centre in futurethen they would certainly try to dictate Pakistan on their given directions due to theirmilitary supremacy.

    ,, .*;-- -".,'' '

    "Nations attend to their security in way that they think

    best". Obviously, Pakistan's security and national interests have the

    top priority in thc,agenda of every premier in the centre. Therefore,

    ~ Pakistan should .pursue the Indian action at any cost without taking

    any outside; pressure because nothing is superior than our survival.