Terrorist Islamic Republic of Pakistan (TSP), Jan. 29, 2010

[Sanku]

We have 300 Million Dhimmi's too in love with their skin to disturb the status quo.

Sure a money lender when he makes 300 times of what he makes today will become a pehlwan and be able to protect his trade cart himself.

Worse stuff than opium dreams.

[SSridhar]

Nuke deal when it materialises for pak may not actually be a sixer. I think it is just a matter of time. And that is not necessarily a blow at India as well. OTOH, it will not alter their (pakis') current strategic position. But then, pakis never care about substance - words & gestures mean more to them. So many things need to be done by them to fulfil requirements of such a deal......

Malayappan, I do agree that for Pakistan gestures mean a lot especially when it concerns India. However, a nuke deal with Pakistan cannot be categorized along with a PL-480 funded wheat supplies that Pakistan demanded equally in the 50s. Let me explain my reasoning.

I think the time has come for us to acknowledge that Pakistan is no longer merely a frequent pinprick and an occasional war-monger vis-a-vis India. It is now fully into the implementation phase of the 'thousand cuts'. It is today a major threat to us, to the general population who are vulnerable to death and destruction caused by Pakistani state-sponsored terrorists, to the economic condition of India where India has to spend an enormous amount of money to protect itself amidst travel advisories by our large trading partners that cause loss of revenue and opportunities, and to the disproportionate amount of time, effort and money that various Indian government departments and agencies have to spend focussing on Pakistan to fend off its malicious activities and diplomatic propaganda. Pakistan has stopped and/or delayed our developmental activities under various pretexts. They are not only subverting our economy on a large scale through FICN, fake stamp papers etc. but also making money through sly investments in the stock market which then sustains more terror activities against us. They sponsor insurgencies all over. They have assiduously developed sleeper cells all over the country. Even though we have a greater threat from PRC, we are not spending as much effort and time on them as we are on Pakistan. We may pretend, for all we want, that India is not == Pakistan and that India-Pakistan is not a zero-sum game, but Pakistan has got the knack (and many a time the fortune) to ingratiate itself with the US and its allies. While the Western perception of India has changed now, the end-result is yet the same. Nobody is willing to punish Pakistan.

It is very obvious that the FoDP, especially those 3½, are not going to shackle Pakistan, leave alone let Pakistan go asunder. All that they are concerned about is that there should be no blowback to them. That would be a lesson they have learnt out of Khobar Towers, 9/11, London 7/7 etc. Pakistan is encouraged, therefore, to continue its freewheeling support for destruction of India by whatever means using whatever resources. A nuke deal would be a game changer for Pakistan because it not only escapes unscathed from a blatant proliferation programme well supported by the State for decades, but also gets rewarded for that. On the other hand, India had to do all the hard work in spite of an impeccable record and a vast scientific and industrial base on the whole spectrum of nuclear research and engineering, to get the NSG waiver. Pakistan would simply ride piggyback on us just as it did for getting its separate country. At another level, it is shameful that a country that considers us as implacable enemies worthy of only being slaughtered, derives benefits because of us ! Pakistan would be simply encouraged to continue on the same intransigent & inflexible curve against India. In coming months and years, this thorn in our flesh will turn into a gangrene endangering our lives if such a concession as a nuclear deal is allowed. Let us remember what our leaders thought of Pakistan earlier around the Independence time. They all thought that Partition would be temporary and Pakistan could not sustain itself. Later, when Pakistan attacked and took parts of Kashmir, we felt that it was only another matter of time before we got it back. We had (and continue to have) contempt for Pakistani economy, military, industry, education etc. and rightly so. Yet, Pakistan has miraculously survived and every passing year the thorn has been becoming bigger and tearing deeper into our flesh. Increasingly, much to our dislike, we have been forced to spend more time on Pakistan.

Pakistan fights a holistic war with us, including trying to engineer the mindset of gullible, naive Indians. It has been able to delude most Indian editors, newspapermen into writing why India must talk to Pakistan even after the atrocious 26/11 even as one can see clearly that Pakistan is taking only cosmetic steps to prosecute some of the planners. When Musharraf visited for the Agra summit, we saw the most spineless meeting of Indian editors. Musharraf not only double-crossed the US but took us also for a big ride with his drama of banning the jihadi tanzeems. Attacks on India never diminished; in fact, their intensity and audacity only grew more.

We will not be able to dismember Pakistan all by ourselves anymore. The FoDP is not going to let that happen either. We can never live peacefully with Pakistan. Our military strength may grow tremendously but Pakistan has also been acquiring weapons from the US and China. It may eat grass, but it still gets a Hatf, a Babur and a soon-to-be-acquired SSN from the Chinese masters. Besides, it continuously lowers the nuclear threshold. We must therefore work ceaselessly to weaken Pakistan, deny it any advantage or concession from others, ensure that it is deprived of technology etc. It is as much a war as our armed forces have been fighting every single day in the last six decades.

[harbans]

Re. breakup of TSP sometimes I wish these animals stay as one because if they breakup there is always a chance that some of them want to join up with India...who needs them....that would be Aurangazeb era through ballot box.

I doubt many would come here. The breakup would happen when the PA is down and out. Economy in shambles and they cannot pay their own soldiers. It will be gradual but decisive. Like the SU. When they look at the barracks for soldiers to quell an uprising in Baluchistan where they've put a Baluch flag on the Parliament, they'll find the barracks empty. They'll know the Talibs are descending and they cannot even escape to Afghanistan for strategic depth against the Taliban, cause they only put them there.

They'll try and escape to Sindh with their down hill skying troops and engage Taliban from geographical vantagepoints. Sindh will ask independence from Pakistan in exchange for protecting themselves. Meanwhile US possibly with India's help will be bombing Taliban positions in Rawalpindi and Isloo, and demanding Pakjabi generals to declare where about of nuke locations in exchange of security to Paki downhill ski fauj. They'll do it without a whimper just like the 95k surrendered in 71.

There will be ethnic tensions between Pashtuns and Sindhi's, Baluchi's and Sindh over Gwadar or Karachi, but these are small compared to the euphoria that will be generated as the newest nations first Prime Ministers/ Presidents or Dictators make their maiden speeches and whip nationalist sentiment.

This sort of scenario can be expected in the near future. With or without India's help.

[shravan]

Pak army copter crashes, 2 killed

TERAH VALLEY: Two Pakistan army personnel martyred when the gunship helicopter crashed in Terah valley, Khyber Agency, military sources confirmed SAMAA on Wednesday.

The military sources told SAMAA that the pilot and the co-pilot present in gunship helicopter, belonging to aviation wing of Pakistan Army have been martyred in the gunship helicopter crash. SAMAA

----
13 people killed in suicide attack in Jamrood

KHYBER AGENCY: At least 13 people have been killed including seven security personnel of Khasadar force (militia) have been martyed in the explosion in the area of Wazir Dhand, tehsil Jamrood, Khyber Agency, State TV confirmed Wednesday.

At least seven security personnel of Khasadar force (militia) have been martyed in the explosion in the area of Wazir Dhand, tehsil Jamrood, Khyber Agency, Khasadar Force sources confirmed SAMAA.

The vehicle of the Zamrood Khan, the officer of the Khasadar Force (militia) was targeted in the attack. The law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the area soon after the blast and rescue work is being carried out.

Zamrood Khan has also been severely injured in the attack.

[svinayak]

I think the time has come for us to acknowledge that Pakistan is no longer merely a frequent pinprick and an occasional war-monger vis-a-vis India. It is now fully into the implementation phase of the 'thousand cuts'. It is today a major threat to us, to the general population who are vulnerable to death and destruction caused by Pakistani state-sponsored terrorists, to the economic condition of India where India has to spend an enormous amount of money to protect itself amidst travel advisories by our large trading partners that cause loss of revenue and opportunities, and to the disproportionate amount of time, effort and money that various Indian government departments and agencies have to spend focussing on Pakistan to fend off its malicious activities and diplomatic propaganda.

The trend was showing up right from 1980 and for the last 30 years. How is that the Indian elite and leadership did not strategize and create counter measures to first tackle it and then neutralize it.
Why was not something like a group or political group and mass movement started to confront this. Instead any attempt was cut down in the name of peace. This needs to be analyzed and studied.

[Suppiah]

http://ramanstrategicanalysis.blogspot. ... ld-of.html

Unusually strong stuff by BR - is he going to join some political party?

BTW re the title 'casualties feared' my English is not that good, how do say the opposite - casualty hoped?

[SSridhar]

Hakeemullah died in Multan ?

Reports about the death of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud once again started circulating on Tuesday and this time it was being reported that the militant commander had succumbed to his injuries in Multan while being shifted to Karachi for treatment.

[shaardula]

The trend was showing up right from 1980 and for the last 30 years. How is that the Indian elite and leadership did not strategize and create counter measures to first tackle it and then neutralize it.
Why was not something like a group or political group and mass movement started to confront this. Instead any attempt was cut down in the name of peace. This needs to be analyzed and studied.

#1. Why do you assume, indian elite & leadership did not strategize and create counter measures to first tackle it and then neutralize it.
#2. Why do you assume that the only way to address it is by forming a group or political group and mass movement started to confront this. - to me this appears to be the paki way of tackling problems - All attention and energy focussed up on firing up jasba, junoon etc. without any thought on actually systematically and systemically solving the problem. In Pakistan, under the guidance of military, the elite do and Abduls do the sacrifice. While in India, under the guidance of the elite, SDREs do and the military does the defense.

[shaardula]

We have 300 Million Dhimmi's too in love with their skin to disturb the status quo.

Sure a money lender when he makes 300 times of what he makes today will become a pehlwan and be able to protect his trade cart himself.

Worse stuff than opium dreams.

wah! ossome only now at SDREs here on BRF? And why? Indian SDRE not producing equivalent of paki raakit mards that is why?

[svinayak]

#1. Why do you assume, indian elite & leadership did not strategize and create counter measures to first tackle it and then neutralize it.

Cool down. The statement by Sridhar should tell you why he had to make the statement. It is obvious and cannot be pushed under the carpet. Hw used the word *time has come* to signify that it is time now.

#2. Why do you assume that the only way to address it is by forming a group or political group and mass movement started to confront this. - to me this appears to be the paki way of doing tackling problems - jasba, junoon etc. As a result in Pakistan, under the guidance of military, the elite do and Abduls do the sacrifice. While in India, under the guidance of the elite, SDREs do and the military does the defense.

There could be other ways too. I am not saying that it is the only way. Here we are talking about a large mass of people in a country 170 million and this is not a small country. Media is one major tool of the state and should be used on a global basis.

[Sanku]

We have 300 Million Dhimmi's too in love with their skin to disturb the status quo.

Sure a money lender when he makes 300 times of what he makes today will become a pehlwan and be able to protect his trade cart himself.

Worse stuff than opium dreams.

wah! ossome only now at SDREs here on BRF? And why? Indian SDRE not producing equivalent of paki raakit mards that is why?

That would be funny if it was not tragic, a billion people being held to ransom by a country 1/7 its size and 1/100 its potential and watching and waiting of how to "not get upset" when next 100 Indians die in a random act of violence.

Sure fine suite yourself, we are better, we are superior we are so good that we can loose our 3 year old without flinching and steadfast in our adherence to Karma to set the world right.

Lets face it -- we the Indian middle class have too long behaved like rich money lenders who buy protection and dont really care about the overall picture, the protection being the Indian armed forces et al, then being the cheepo's we are, we ask them to do it on a shoe string budget, then if some one points out jump to do a equal equal with Pakis as the only resort of covering our delusions.

A third rate state which was not expected to last the year holds the potential of unleashing the next horrendous barbarism on the Indian lands (have we ALREADY forgotten the last ones so quickly? 71 was like 40 years back) and we are smug about it?

We cant even get Dawood and Tiger Memon? What does it take to mobilze the army to create a fire wall and then launch Israel type rocket attacks deep into Pakistan to make every bugger who has escaped with killing Indians pay?

Excuses excuses excuses.

[Sanku]

Harbans, good thinking in many ways except one. TSPA is not going to run out of funds. Not going to happen.

[RamaY]

Throughout India's history it is the economoic prosperity that attracted the foriegn invaders again and again. It is lack of "necessary" military machine and the "will to use it" to protect Indian interests is what let those foriegn invaders have a field trip causing immense human and economic losses to India. If we extrapolate that history, the limited nuke-wars of 21st century are no way greater than the systemic genocides conducted against Indian population by those foriegn invaders.

The strategy of peace for economic prosperity will not work when one is surrounded by ideological enemies such as TSP and PRC.

India must take the war to the enemies. A well executed military plan could produce the added benefit of economic prosperity. War can be net-wealth creator, if properly executed.

[Gerard]

Israel type rocket attacks deep into Pakistan

Israel has the luxury of opponents (PA+Hamas) that don't have heavy artillery regiments or warplanes that can respond effectively to an attack.
TSP's conventional firepower and nuclear weapons provide space for its "subconventional warfare" (to use Ejaz Haidar's term for jihadi terror). A response using conventional means may rapidly escalate to full scale war. Does the IA/IAF/IN have the equipment at present for a knockout blow? Are they ready for a decisive war? Perhaps a subconventional response may be more appropriate?

[Nihat]

I think the time has come for us to acknowledge that Pakistan is no longer merely a frequent pinprick and an occasional war-monger vis-a-vis India. It is now fully into the implementation phase of the 'thousand cuts'. It is today a major threat to us, to the general population who are vulnerable to death and destruction caused by Pakistani state-sponsored terrorists, to the economic condition of India where India has to spend an enormous amount of money to protect itself amidst travel advisories by our large trading partners that cause loss of revenue and opportunities, and to the disproportionate amount of time, effort and money that various Indian government departments and agencies have to spend focussing on Pakistan to fend off its malicious activities and diplomatic propaganda.

I really do not agree with this , post 1990 TSP has been behaving like a rabid dog - their so called "success" in Afghanistan against the Soviets + US backing made them so giddy that they unleased a fearsome form of terror in Kashmir , I remember watching TV in those times and hearing about casualties in bomb blasts , soldiers martyred in ambushes , genocide of the worst type against KP's. We had to deploy incredible ammount of resources in military and economic terms to try and control the terror in the valley. With US backing the issue was getting internationalized.

THAT imho was the time when TSP was a real pain in the backside , when it was causing some serious damage and worse it was getting away with it.

The kind of threat we see today is the desperate acts of a desperate nation ,one that is trying to win a race it never can through convetional means and is willing to try out all sorts of dirty tricks to make the front runner fall on it's back . The faster we run the more furthur away we get from TSP and here I'm not referring to a cowardly surrender or fake peace making of any type.

We are not and historically have not been that kind of state to pursue Israel like action against mad banana republics like TSP whereby we form a core group and work concertedly to destroy TSP (as much as I would lve that).

We must work differently and look to other means for Subverting TSP . So called soft power is the biggest weapon in our hand today , we've seen time and again that hard power has only sought to Unite TSP as one whereas our objectives should be the polar opposite

[Sanku]

Israel type rocket attacks deep into Pakistan

Israel has the luxury of opponents (PA+Hamas) that don't have heavy artillery regiments or warplanes that can respond effectively to an attack.

Fine; let them escalate and we respond to that.

Time to take the war to the enemy.

Let us see if THEY want to escalate over a dead Dawood -- surely they should be the one fearing the situation where -- India forms a firewall and keeps destroying Pakistani hell holes from behind it -- more than us?

Arent we the bigger better nation? Of well funded defence to protect our citizens? Surely we should not be afraid?

Oh dont forget to mention that Col Purhoit ganged up with Mossad to procure it and use the missile -- a non state actor -- after all see we have all sorts of naxals active in India.

[anupmisra]

Looks like a 400% posed photograph.

Tell me if this ain't a 800% posed phtograph? You know where this is leading to? Mo' money! Mo' money!

[svinayak]

We must work differently and look to other means for Subverting TSP . So called soft power is the biggest weapon in our hand today , we've seen time and again that hard power has only sought to Unite TSP as one whereas our objectives should be the polar opposite

Your post is correct. Now other nations are listening to what Pakistan says and there is where the danger is. Indian media is not there to change the views of the people in other large nations.


http://ramanstrategicanalysis.blogspot. ... ld-of.html

28. Pakistan’s penchant to live in a self-created world of illusions is known to us. We are not surprised. But we are surprised by the inability of the US and the rest of the world to see through the games which Pakistani political and military leaders have always played. They are letting themselves be sucked into Pakistan’s world of illusions. ( 9-2-10)

[RamaY]

We must work differently and look to other means for Subverting TSP . So called soft power is the biggest weapon in our hand today , we've seen time and again that hard power has only sought to Unite TSP as one whereas our objectives should be the polar opposite

The soft power will not last forever. The world didn't recognize tens of thousands of killings in Punjab and JK before 9/11, and by some accounts even now. What makes you believe that the world opinion is shaped by Punjab and JK terrorism? World opinion is shaped by only two events 9/11 and follow-on attacks in EU.

Imagine 11/26 in isolation without 9/11+EU attacks in the background and see if it would have got the world blink their eyes for India.

[A_Gupta]

Regarding:

http://ramanstrategicanalysis.blogspot. ... ld-of.html

28. Pakistan’s penchant to live in a self-created world of illusions is known to us. We are not surprised. But we are surprised by the inability of the US and the rest of the world to see through the games which Pakistani political and military leaders have always played. They are letting themselves be sucked into Pakistan’s world of illusions. ( 9-2-10)

Consider the possibility that they are well aware of it - but some of the games play to their advantage and about how to deal with other of the games they are just as clueless as the Indian leadership.

[Sanku]

Further, so use of hard power unites Pakistani's, fine SO WHAT, are we being told that we are AFRAID to use hard power because if they unite we may just not be able to handle the consequences?

Meanwhile who punishes those who have murdered Indians? Who will pay for Rupin Katyal? For Major Kengurse? For Lt S Kalia? Who will pay for the Kashmiri Pandits who were raped in front of their husbands eyes and then husbands killed?

For the 3 year olds who lose their parent in Mumbai etc?

Yes there is pack of feral dogs who when attacked attack us as a group and when taking a break from attacking us as a group fight and hurt themselves? So the law of the Karma is to say that our justice is served by the feral dogs themselves? Even when it is the THE top dog which led the pack last time our niece was killed? Even when the feral dog will fight to create only a next generation Top dog which will lead a leaner meaner hungier and larger pack against the village?

The Chinese for many hundered years played politics with Mongols as they bought them off and soaked in "Civilization" then the Mongols had a aha moment and went with the Kublai khan -- I am sure we all know what happened to the great Chinese armies.

How much more does the basic reality of the world has to be written in BLOOD IN BOLD LETTERS for us to read it?

[Philip]

...and why is the US being sucked intp Paki illusions? It is because of our great Gandhian "soft" approach! Gandhi used non-violence because it was the best way at that time,to show how morally bankrupt British colonialism was.In the era of two great wars,the moral reasons for going to war despite the massive loss of life and destruction moved nations.With Pak there is NO morality in the entity whatsoever.Pak will not be moved as the British were as they do not play "cricket" with a "straight bat".The US can only see as far as their noses and require a "batman" or rent boy to wipe their backsides whenever they defecate in some other part of the world,not in their own yard.

India has done v.little to show the US how serious we are about Paki terror and how enraged the Indian nation is.The only way in which the US will get the message is if we treat the US the same way in which the "Bad Taliban" are treating them-with utter contempt.WE should kick out the US ambassador for his country continuing to selll Pak arms and give it aid to continue to wage terror against India,stop all defence agreements with it-kick out the Kickleighter accord,and act inb every way inimical to US interests by signing on with Iran on the pipeline,etc.,etc.,It is only then that the US will respect you.With a servile lackey like MMS,who has been "yours faithfully" to US interests for most of his life as an IMF flunkey,they care a damn about India and our interests.

To get the point,the US must be shown the "point" ,of a sharp instrument preferably delivered to its backsidde.Pak too needs not just the point,but one with an explosive tip!

[shyamd]

Iran offers to play role in India-Pak talks

Expressing its support for talks between India and Pakistan, Iran on Tuesday also offered to play a role in facilitating negotiations if there is “any need”.

Iran’s ambassador to India Seyed Mehdi Nabizadeh, who was addressing the media in Delhi on the occasion of THE 31st anniversary celebrations of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said, “We have always welcomed direct negotiations between India and Pakistan. We feel direct negotiations will succeed much faster.” “Iran, being a friend of India and Pakistan, can play a role in facilitating negotiations if there is any need,” he added.

It may be noted that Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao made this proposal to hold talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir, when she made a phone call to him on January 28.

[svinayak]

India has done v.little to show the US how serious we are about Paki terror and how enraged the Indian nation is.

This is what I am talking about.

#1. Why do you assume, indian elite & leadership did not strategize and create counter measures to first tackle it and then neutralize it.

[Nihat]

I'm not even talking of those attacks , Soft power is not dependent on anything like that. A booming economy has afforded us better relations with the US and so it cannot afford to turn a blind eye to India's concerns vis-a-vis TSP. Why do you think Israel is such a bully , mainly because of the Jewish Lobby in Israel and the influence it has in the US.

Take China as another example , most nations including India and US have been pushed into effectivly legitimizing the oppresion of Tibetians in China , nobody dare interfere in China's internal problems anymore , That is China's soft power and that what I'm talking about.

China did not start investing in it's military first , it lay low and put in the ground work for which it is reaping the rewards today, 9/11 or no 9/11 do you think Richard Hoolbroke would have been kept out of India had it not been soft power in America which essentially comes from a more prominent Indian Community in US , porspect of American companies in India , big ticket defence deals and a powerful regional ally.

In much the same way we can have an impact on TSP too. Stuff like medical tourism , IPL , all their band baja wallas coming here , Dams in Kashmir , Conventional military growth , greater diplomatic say , more say in global affairs including Climate , IMF etc etc . These things do look petty and rather useless right now wrt TSP and it's brand of Jihad but these are exactly the things which make TSP more desperate every passing day.

The more desperate they get , the more the craving for a society like ours , economy like ours and secular ideals like ours. In this desperation it will either have to surrender wrt issues like Kashmir and back down on their rigid stance or they will take off their gloves , in both ways victory belongs to us.


Infact we already see signs of our Soft power kicking in , the IPL tamasha , their cribbing over our Afghan Involvement , Nuke Deal with the world , demand for Equal equal , water cribbing ( when they know they have no case) , all these things go a long way in the long term. If we act stupid now , we stand to loose a lot.

[Sanku]

Those are absolutely the wrong examples, the state of Israel was formed on the basis of sweat, toil and blood of zionists who baught and created Israel.

The first war which Israel fought was with no allies on its side and the entire Arab nations league against it.

Israel makes friends because it has shown the capacity to create hard power and the will to use it.

-----------------

India is already China's GDP in 2001, compare Chinese aggression in 2001 vs now. Heck take the 70s when a China completely devastated from the giant leap forward was being sucked up to by Kissinger and Nixon? Soft power? GDP?

THE WORLD BELONGS TO THOSE WHO CREATE AND USE HARD POWER

Soft power gaya tel lene -- we are told "we are good boys" as we sit around getting kicked by all and sundry.

But if people can make the "soft power/gdp rocks" types of post on BRF -- I can only wait for Brihspati's prediction of the next holocaust to visit the Gangetic plain to happen as scheduled.

-----------------

We needed to lose it a long time ago -- the longer we take to lose it -- the more we will lose.

[RamaY]

^^^ Nihat

Not correct!

US's relationship with Israel is strategic in nature. It is not driven by economics

US's relationship with PRC was started for strategic reasons, not economic. The economic relationship came as a consequence of that strategic relationship.

Similarly US's relationship with Pakistan is strategic in nature. That is why Unkil is pumping money into this terror state, even when he is not sure of the returns.

It is naivity to think that US will support/engage with India once India gains economic prosperity. This is 1/4th truth at the best. US engaged with India (nuke-deal) for strategic reasons, not economic reasons alone. The price India paid for this deal is also strategic in nature; be it relations with Iran or TSP.

Your $72 trillion economy cannot save a single Indian life or protect one inch of Indian land, when the push comes to shove.

[svinayak]

Your $72 trillion economy cannot save a single Indian life or protect one inch of Indian land, when the push comes to shove.

I did not know people can be so naive!

[Philip]

Nihat,"Soft Power" must not be confused with a "Soft State".India is a "soft power" acknowldeged,because of its intellectual prowess and empowered innovative human resources,but it is also a "soft state",in that it allows others to trample all over it and reacts with mere "notes verbale",not by "counter-punching".It is this soft approach to perfidy of the most diabloic kind that is simply scandalous to the Indian population.If there is another major terror attack during the regime of "Singh the king", his govt.will fall if no action is taken unless a military response is forthcoming ,or at the very least total snapping of diplomatic ties with Pak.

[Neela]

Since 1971, we have not fought Pakistan in their lands. We have been protecting our lands and peoples losing 10s of thousands of civilian lives.

Pakistan knows fully well that the proxy war is the one where it can point fingers at non-state actors and get away with it. That is why the proxy war is and will be the only tool Pakistanis can use. The way forward is to lay all blame squarely on Pakistan and use that to inflict damage inside Pakistan!.

We cannot afford to buy Pakistan's bluff anymore! We still havent learnt to equate the loss of life through terrorism as an act of war!

[Pranav]

There are various kinds of power

- Soft power, moral credibility, attractiveness
- Unconventional power (Saama, Daama, Bheda, espionage, information, disinformation etc.)
- Economic power (MFN status, sanctions, duties, market access).
- Conventional (non-nuclear) hard power
- And finally nukes (ultimate guarantee that if we go down, a whole bunch of people will go down with us).

There is a science for the application of power in each of these domains. India was much better at this in 300 BC than we are now.

[Varoon Shekhar]

"India has done v.little to show the US how serious we are about Paki terror and how enraged the Indian nation is.The only way in which the US will get the message is if we treat the US the same way in which the "Bad Taliban" are treating them-with utter contempt.WE should kick out the US ambassador for his country continuing to selll Pak arms.."

And make sure to note the contrast( the massive contrast) in the terror India faces from Pakistan, to what the US gets from Iran- which is to say, no terror at all, positively nothing on its own soil. Yet, the US frowns at the slightest military engagement India has with Iran, and even non-military in the selling of refined petroleum! Let the US know that this kind of behaviour is absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable.

One exception to mention: the former presidential candidate John Kerry did state that India has suffered more terrorism than any other country on earth. In this regard, he is way ahead of many Indian commentators on the so called "left" of the political spectrum. These types in India will condemn every terrorist attack, but they will also bring up the 'underlying cause' issue- Ayodhya, Mumbai riots and Gujarat. Grrrrrrrr...

[SSridhar]

10 less pious Khasadar policemen killed by the more pious

At least 10 personnel of the paramilitary Khasadar force were killed and eight other wounded in a suicide blast occurred on Pak-Afghan Shahrah in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber Agency Wednesday.

[Dilbu]

India is still in the old world where diplomats delivering well articulated speeches in impeccable english on the floor of UN is considered a credible 'response' to state sponsored terrorists killing innocent civilians on one's own backyard. No one, be it politicians or citizens, likes to get their hands dirty. We keep on procrastinating till kingdom come. It was 2010 GDP that was going to deliver the killer blow as per the folks in 2000 and now, in 2010, we think it is the 2020 trillion dollar GDP that is going to kill TSP. I am not dismissing economic clout and the resultant power at all but only pointing out the obvious.

[RamaY]

Your $72 trillion economy cannot save a single Indian life or protect one inch of Indian land, when the push comes to shove.

I did not know people can be so naive!

Acharya-ji. I am

Did I say anything wrong?

[harbans]

India is already China's GDP in 2001

Minor nitpick Sankuji, India's GDP now is around what China's was in 2003, when it sent people into space. Agree with the rest, China was infinitely more aggressive than India. However lets not discount a good economy is not a valuable asset to hard power projection. It is and certainly if there is political will to project it in a rational manner. Something India's statesmen will have to learn more about in the coming years.

[svinayak]

Acharya-ji. I am

Did I say anything wrong?

Not about your post. It is about people advocating soft power and thinking that soft state is soft power.

[Sanku]

India is already China's GDP in 2001

Minor nitpick Sankuji, India's GDP now is around what China's was in 2003, when it sent people into space. Agree with the rest, China was infinitely more aggressive than India. However lets not discount a good economy is not a valuable asset to hard power projection. It is and certainly if there is political will to project it in a rational manner. Something India's statesmen will have to learn more about in the coming years.

Thanks for the correction Harbans, woe be me if I discount economic strength as a valuable asset. However the history of warfare and strategic conflicts bears testimony to the fact that mostly its the economic weaklings who win, ironic it may be but true it is. Thats usually because they are hungrier. On the other hand economic strength is definitely useful for one aspect -- for providing a large standing army at guard for a large stable power which is into preservation mode.

Especially in the case of India, economic strength has never been an issue in our losses or our inablity to defend our lives our land our culture.

We as a nation are by geography and culture a honey collecting culture. It is time that we as a culture took a hard turn towards militarism for a long time to come

[Dilbu]

Pakistan confirms Hakimullah Mehsud's death

PESHAWAR: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Wednesday confirmed the death of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud, a day after the militant group itself said he had died.

Speaking to reporters here, he said there were reports that Qari Hussain, who had masterminded a number of suicide bombings, had also been killed.

This explains the drop in run rate. Two well set batsmen have got out. Lets hope the ones replacing them are T20 specialists who will make up for the dot balls.

[SSridhar]

If Qari Hussain is also dead that would be a big blow to TTP, especially the suicide-bombing side of it. He was ustaad-e-fidayeen and there is nobody to replace him, AFAIK. Hakimullahs are replaceable but not this Qari.