Bharat Rakshak

uddu wrote:Finally the Pakistanis will become the baap of Arabs..
God send opportunity. When Americans shutting down all doors to make money, Saudi Arabia opened up. Pakistanis will land in the promised land. Occupy the Arabs, loot their wealth and make it the new Pakistan. Who want the moth eaten Pakistan of today.

The world’s attention has rightly been riveted on negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program. If and when that deal is made final, America and the other major powers that worked on it — China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany — should turn their attention to South Asia, a troubled region with growing nuclear risks of its own.

Pakistan, with the world’s fastest-growing nuclear arsenal, is unquestionably the biggest concern, one reinforced by several recent developments. Last week, Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, announced that he had approved a new deal to purchase eight diesel-electric submarines from China, which could be equipped with nuclear missiles, for an estimated $5 billion. Last month, Pakistan test-fired a ballistic missile that appears capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to any part of India. And a senior adviser, Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to continue developing short-range tactical nuclear weapons whose only purpose is use on the battlefield in a war against India.

These investments reflect the Pakistani Army’s continuing obsession with India as the enemy, a rationale that allows the generals to maintain maximum power over the government and demand maximum national resources. Pakistan now has an arsenal of as many as 120 nuclear weapons and is expected to triple that in a decade. An increase of that size makes no sense, especially since India’s nuclear arsenal, estimated at about 110 weapons, is growing more slowly.

The two countries have a troubled history, having fought four wars since independence in 1947, and deep animosities persist. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has made it clear that Pakistan can expect retaliation if Islamic militants carry out a terrorist attack in India, as happened with the 2008 bombing in Mumbai. But the latest major conflict was in 1999, and since then India, a vibrant democracy, has focused on becoming a regional economic and political power.

At the same time, Pakistan has sunk deeper into chaos, threatened by economic collapse, the weakening of political institutions and, most of all, a Taliban insurgency that aims to bring down the state. Advanced military equipment — new submarines, the medium-range Shaheen-III missile with a reported range of up to 1,700 miles, short-range tactical nuclear weapons — are of little use in defending against such threats. The billions of dollars wasted on these systems would be better spent investing in health, education and jobs for Pakistan’s people.

Even more troubling, the Pakistani Army has become increasingly dependent on the nuclear arsenal because Pakistan cannot match the size and sophistication of India’s conventional forces. Pakistan has left open the possibility that it could be the first to use nuclear weapons in a confrontation, even one that began with conventional arms. Adding short-range tactical nuclear weapons that can hit their targets quickly compounds the danger.

Pakistan is hardly alone in its potential to cause regional instability. China, which considers Pakistan a close ally and India a potential threat, is continuing to build up its nuclear arsenal, now estimated at 250 weapons, while all three countries are moving ahead with plans to deploy nuclear weapons at sea in the Indian Ocean.

This is not a situation that can be ignored by the major powers, however preoccupied they may be by the long negotiations with Iran.

shiv wrote:

John Isabeau wrote:TULUVAN:
Agree with you, 99.99%, not 100.00!
John Isabeau (BRF Trainee)

John Sneau?

JE Menon wrote:

shiv wrote: John Sneau?

Neau

SSridhar wrote:Nuclear Fears in South Asia - Edit, NYT

> wrote:The world’s attention has rightly been riveted on negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program. If and when that deal is made final, America and the other major powers that worked on it — China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany — should turn their attention to South Asia, a troubled region with growing nuclear risks of its own.

Pakistan, with the world’s fastest-growing nuclear arsenal, is unquestionably the biggest concern, one reinforced by several recent developments. Last week, Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, announced that he had approved a new deal to purchase eight diesel-electric submarines from China, which could be equipped with nuclear missiles, for an estimated $5 billion. Last month, Pakistan test-fired a ballistic missile that appears capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to any part of India. And a senior adviser, Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to continue developing short-range tactical nuclear weapons whose only purpose is use on the battlefield in a war against India.

These investments reflect the Pakistani Army’s continuing obsession with India as the enemy, a rationale that allows the generals to maintain maximum power over the government and demand maximum national resources. Pakistan now has an arsenal of as many as 120 nuclear weapons and is expected to triple that in a decade. An increase of that size makes no sense, especially since India’s nuclear arsenal, estimated at about 110 weapons, is growing more slowly.

The two countries have a troubled history, having fought four wars since independence in 1947, and deep animosities persist. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has made it clear that Pakistan can expect retaliation if Islamic militants carry out a terrorist attack in India, as happened with the 2008 bombing in Mumbai. But the latest major conflict was in 1999, and since then India, a vibrant democracy, has focused on becoming a regional economic and political power.

At the same time, Pakistan has sunk deeper into chaos, threatened by economic collapse, the weakening of political institutions and, most of all, a Taliban insurgency that aims to bring down the state. Advanced military equipment — new submarines, the medium-range Shaheen-III missile with a reported range of up to 1,700 miles, short-range tactical nuclear weapons — are of little use in defending against such threats. The billions of dollars wasted on these systems would be better spent investing in health, education and jobs for Pakistan’s people.

Even more troubling, the Pakistani Army has become increasingly dependent on the nuclear arsenal because Pakistan cannot match the size and sophistication of India’s conventional forces. Pakistan has left open the possibility that it could be the first to use nuclear weapons in a confrontation, even one that began with conventional arms. Adding short-range tactical nuclear weapons that can hit their targets quickly compounds the danger.

Pakistan is hardly alone in its potential to cause regional instability. China, which considers Pakistan a close ally and India a potential threat, is continuing to build up its nuclear arsenal, now estimated at 250 weapons, while all three countries are moving ahead with plans to deploy nuclear weapons at sea in the Indian Ocean.

This is not a situation that can be ignored by the major powers, however preoccupied they may be by the long negotiations with Iran.[<=/quote]

Highlighted some points in blue. How come Modi is not tagged as the Right wing Yindoo nationalist? Isn't that omission a cardinal sin?

Many moons ago I had commented that Modi will use India's growth (i.e the India-Pak growth disparity) itself as a weapon. The growing gap in growth will make the gap in the defense budget expand at a faster pace with EACH passing year. That will force BakMil to appropriate bigger and bigger chunk of the national budget with each passing year leaving lesser and lesser for the civilian. With each passing year the civilian administration will keep receding leaving space for chaos to expand forcing more and more citizens to eat grass and fend for themselves. That will also pull the BakMil more and more into law and order kind of stuff. Much before the whole budget is appropriated by BakMil and everyone except the BakMil is forced to eat grass, the country will pass into a state of anarchy and break.

NYT is not making a plea to save South Asia from a Nuclear crisis but to save Bakistan from the coming collapse. Don't know if even the Edit board realizes that. They have got the sum and substance of the matter right even if their final fears are wrong.

SSridhar wrote:Nuclear Fears in South Asia - Edit, NYT

The world’s attention has rightly been riveted on negotiations aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program. If and when that deal is made final, America and the other major powers that worked on it — China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany — should turn their attention to South Asia, a troubled region with growing nuclear risks of its own.

Pakistan, with the world’s fastest-growing nuclear arsenal, is unquestionably the biggest concern, one reinforced by several recent developments. Last week, Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, announced that he had approved a new deal to purchase eight diesel-electric submarines from China, which could be equipped with nuclear missiles, for an estimated $5 billion. Last month, Pakistan test-fired a ballistic missile that appears capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to any part of India. And a senior adviser, Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to continue developing short-range tactical nuclear weapons whose only purpose is use on the battlefield in a war against India.

These investments reflect the Pakistani Army’s continuing obsession with India as the enemy, a rationale that allows the generals to maintain maximum power over the government and demand maximum national resources. Pakistan now has an arsenal of as many as 120 nuclear weapons and is expected to triple that in a decade. An increase of that size makes no sense, especially since India’s nuclear arsenal, estimated at about 110 weapons, is growing more slowly.

The two countries have a troubled history, having fought four wars since independence in 1947, and deep animosities persist. Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has made it clear that Pakistan can expect retaliation if Islamic militants carry out a terrorist attack in India, as happened with the 2008 bombing in Mumbai. But the latest major conflict was in 1999, and since then India, a vibrant democracy, has focused on becoming a regional economic and political power.

At the same time, Pakistan has sunk deeper into chaos, threatened by economic collapse, the weakening of political institutions and, most of all, a Taliban insurgency that aims to bring down the state. Advanced military equipment — new submarines, the medium-range Shaheen-III missile with a reported range of up to 1,700 miles, short-range tactical nuclear weapons — are of little use in defending against such threats. The billions of dollars wasted on these systems would be better spent investing in health, education and jobs for Pakistan’s people.

Even more troubling, the Pakistani Army has become increasingly dependent on the nuclear arsenal because Pakistan cannot match the size and sophistication of India’s conventional forces. Pakistan has left open the possibility that it could be the first to use nuclear weapons in a confrontation, even one that began with conventional arms. Adding short-range tactical nuclear weapons that can hit their targets quickly compounds the danger.

Pakistan is hardly alone in its potential to cause regional instability. China, which considers Pakistan a close ally and India a potential threat, is continuing to build up its nuclear arsenal, now estimated at 250 weapons, while all three countries are moving ahead with plans to deploy nuclear weapons at sea in the Indian Ocean. But then NYT has always itself to be more concerned about the mess that the world is in as though there is nothing that is seriously wrong with US itself.

This is not a situation that can be ignored by the major powers, however preoccupied they may be by the long negotiations with Iran.

SSridhar wrote:Nuclear Fears in South Asia - Edit, NYT

Last week, Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, announced that he had approved a new deal to purchase eight diesel-electric submarines from China, which could be equipped with nuclear missiles, for an estimated $5 billion. Last month, Pakistan test-fired a ballistic missile that appears capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to any part of India. And a senior adviser, Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, reaffirmed Pakistan’s determination to continue developing short-range tactical nuclear weapons whose only purpose is use on the battlefield in a war against India.

These investments reflect the Pakistani Army’s continuing obsession with India as the enemy, a rationale that allows the generals to maintain maximum power over the government and demand maximum national resources. Pakistan now has an arsenal of as many as 120 nuclear weapons and is expected to triple that in a decade. An increase of that size makes no sense, especially since India’s nuclear arsenal, estimated at about 110 weapons, is growing more slowly.

...and, most of all, a Taliban insurgency that aims to bring down the state. Advanced military equipment — new submarines, the medium-range Shaheen-III missile with a reported range of up to 1,700 miles, short-range tactical nuclear weapons — are of little use in defending against such threats. The billions of dollars wasted on these systems would be better spent investing in health, education and jobs for Pakistan’s people.

Forget the nuclear stuff for a minute here. Take a look at the stuff quoted re conventional arms. Where the heck is mention of F-16s, WLRs, AIM-120s and P-3Cs hain? Not to mention all those small arms from the convoys and equipment left behind from the afghan war. Nope, NYT wont mention those.

pankajs wrote:Many moons ago I had commented that Modi will use India's growth (i.e the India-Pak growth disparity) itself as a weapon. The growing gap in growth will make the gap in the defense budget expand at a faster pace with EACH passing year. That will force BakMil to appropriate bigger and bigger chunk of the national budget with each passing year leaving lesser and lesser for the civilian. With each passing year the civilian administration will keep receding leaving space for chaos to expand forcing more and more citizens to eat grass and fend for themselves. That will also pull the BakMil more and more into law and order kind of stuff. Much before the whole budget is appropriated by BakMil and everyone except the BakMil is forced to eat grass, the country will pass into a state of anarchy and break.

pankajs wrote:NYT is not making a plea to save South Asia from a Nuclear crisis but to save Bakistan from the coming collapse. Don't know if even the Edit board realizes that. They have got the sum and substance of the matter right even if their final fears are wrong.

After signing agreements with India and Russia on the peaceful uses of atomic energy, Sri Lanka entered into a similar deal with Pakistan in Islamabad on Monday.

The Atomic Energy Board of Sri Lanka and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission signed an MoU for sharing of resources and training in non-destructive testing methods; radio-isotope applications in medicine, industry and agriculture; Carbon 14 dating methods; and application of nuclear analytical tools for studying marine pollution. There is a provision for setting up a joint committee to identify specific projects in these areas and monitor progress.

As in the case of the pacts with India and Russia, the MoU with Pakistan does not envisage nuclear power production. Sri Lanka has no nuclear power plants nor does it plan to go for one in the foreseeable future.

shiv wrote:

Peregrine wrote:Saudi Arabia Risks Quagmire in Yemen Campaign
Cheers

I am sure airstrikes will succeed in closing down Houthi belligerence. I recall I once attacked a beehive with a stick - striking it from the air like the Soothi Arabians. When I woke up in a hospital bed there were no more bees. Obviously my tactic was a success.

Tuvaluan wrote:http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/04/pre ... stan/88120

"MoUs were signed in the field of atomic energy, sports, disaster management and tourism"

Hopefully, there is a line in this SL-Pakistan sport MOU stating pakistan will not shoot sri lankan players when they visit pakistan on cricket tours.

KARACHI: While hundreds of Pakistanis remain stranded in war-torn Yemen, the Pakistani ambassador to the Gulf state and his staff returned home, leaving expats in a state of confusion as their evacuation without a diplomatic mission becomes more difficult.

Speaking from Aden by telephone, a Pakistani expat Tauqeer Ahmed said that with the return of the embassy staff, the Pakistani community in Yemen is voluntarily helping coordinate amongst their own people.

“Obviously, we are facing a lot of difficulty. If a government official was here, things would have been more organised and more resources would have been employed to bring people together. Right now, volunteers are doing the work of the officials.”

Around 2,000 Pakistanis are said to be stranded in Yemen, while 503 people, including the Pakistani Ambassador to Yemen and his embassy staff, were brought back by a special PIA flight late on Sunday.

Read: First PIA aircraft carrying stranded Pakistanis from Yemen arrives in Karachi

Ahmed, who works for an oil terminal and lubricant manufacturing company, said he could hear the noise of tanks and rockets in surrounding areas of the airport.

He, along with six other fellow Pakistanis, is currently living in his office, which, they feel, is a secure place. “So far, I am in the free-zone but God knows when things can go wrong and the rebels can come here,” he said.

Ahmed, who has been living in Aden for the last four years, has compiled a list of 150 Pakistanis present there.

When contacted by The Express Tribune, the Pakistani Ambassador to Yemen Dr Irfan Yousuf Shami, who returned home on Sunday, hung up and failed to respond.

Meanwhile, foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said they had coordinators and focal points in Yemen, and their crisis management cell in Islamabad was coordinating.

But her statement offered little solace to those stranded in the war-torn country and their families. People like Talha, whose sister Romana Hafeez along with her four children and paralyzed husband, are stranded in Yemeni Capital Sana’a, are willing to take any risk to save their loved ones.

Read: Yemen war: Clock ticking for stranded families

“The embassy staff should have stayed there till everyone came back. I am willing to go and save people there as I have worked in conflict-hit areas.”

Falijee wrote:http://tribune.com.pk/story/865951/mala ... -pakistan/
Who can we believe here!!!!

pankajs wrote:Many moons ago I had commented that Modi will use India's growth (i.e the India-Pak growth disparity) itself as a weapon. The growing gap in growth will make the gap in the defense budget expand at a faster pace with EACH passing year. That will force BakMil to appropriate bigger and bigger chunk of the national budget with each passing year leaving lesser and lesser for the civilian. With each passing year the civilian administration will keep receding leaving space for chaos to expand forcing more and more citizens to eat grass and fend for themselves. That will also pull the BakMil more and more into law and order kind of stuff. Much before the whole budget is appropriated by BakMil and everyone except the BakMil is forced to eat grass, the country will pass into a state of anarchy and break.

Kashi wrote:As it has been seen time and time again, TSPA can and will appropriate resources because they can and they are fully aware that their 3.5 Mai Baaps will NOT let them sink. There'll be enough of IMF tranches, CSFs, "gifts from a friendly donor" to keep the economy afloat.

For them, TSP is too valuable a tool against India to be left alone.

pankajs wrote:NYT is not making a plea to save South Asia from a Nuclear crisis but to save Bakistan from the coming collapse. Don't know if even the Edit board realizes that. They have got the sum and substance of the matter right even if their final fears are wrong.

Kashi wrote:I think NYT plea is far more sinister- India must not be allowed to rise beyond a point, because "this will cause the Bakis to become more paranoid and probably trigger a nuclear crisis.". What's left unsaid is that 3.5 MaiBaaps will not mind that one bit.