The irony is hard to miss. Just as Pakistan is struggling with the fallout of the first known breach of its territorial sovereignty by U.S. ground troops and all the odium associated with it in a proud nation, India has been welcomed into the nuclear high table, almost entirely at America’s behest.
Two unrelated events but coming days apart seemed to underline the divergent paths the two nations are embarked upon. One has a gun pointed to it; the other is being wooed.
On Saturday, America railroaded whatever opposition there was from smaller countries in the Nuclear Suppliers Group to civilian nuclear trade with India, despite its refusal to give up nuclear weapons and sign the NPT. As far as New Delhi is concerned the approval is a momentous decision as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said, because it ends 34 years of sanctions and isolation following the first nuclear test in 1974.
I remember an Indian defence scientist telling me way back that the sanctions were so pervasive that some institutions blacklisted by the United States on suspicion they were involved in the nuclear weapons programme couldn’t even import a toothbrush from there.
In one stroke, and in line with the way in which the Bush administration has gone about remaking the world in its own image, all that has changed. India’s nuclear weapons aren’t a problem any more as America builds a new strategic partnership that many see as aimed at balancing China.
And what of Pakistan ? A seat at the nuclear table is probably the farthest thing on anyone’s mind including perhaps Islamabad’s as it struggles with more fundamental issues of territorial integrity at this point. The raid this week by U.S. forces may signal an even more intense attacks as this report says.
But the Pakistan government, says Gary Leupp, a history professor at Tufts University, has provided more assistance to the United States than any other as it pursues its goals in southwest Asia. No country has been more dramatically destabilized as the price of its cooperation.
“But not only does the U.S. political class take this disastrous compliance for granted, it wants to further emphasize Islamabad’s irrelevance by attacking the border area at will,” he writes. And ominously it’s not just the Bush crowd; Senator Barack Obama has been saying that the United States must do more to press Pakistan to act against the Islamist militants as an earlier post on this blog pointed out.
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@sarrosh,
India was the worlds largest economy till muslims came to India hence they have caused much more damage to Indian civilization than the British did. All the aspirations of Indian people were suppressed for 1000 years and now its again moving to a place where it belong in the world. Infact the place where i am from, Bangalore/Southern Karnataka was under Muslim rule for a very brief period of around 30 years and was always ruled by Hindu Rajas and Emperors. If you go to muslim ruled Hyderabad Karnataka region in my state you can see how backward it is. Check “wikipedia economic history of the world” you will find out. If you look at beautifully carved ancient hindu temples you can make out how talented our ancestors once were. Muslims were able to rule India coz India was not a unified country after Maurya’s and there were no collective measures to tackle those invading forces. Check your skin colour and body features. It looks like any of the Indians but only difference is that your great great grandpa converted to Islam under fear and my grandpa didn’t accepted that Arab religion for which i am very proud. Just tell me why being an Indian i should accept Arab hegemony and get an Arab name? why whould i pray to Arab named god by bending towards Arabia? Why should i wear 7th century Arab dress?. We Indians have our own god since 5000 years, our own way of dressing, our own names derived from our own language. If your great great pa did it for fear means i don’t have to. I have got a normal functioning brain and i can think logically.
- Posted by Sudhir@Sudhir
- Posted by Abdul Salim Gadha KhanWhy bring religion onto every thing you ask?
Well Islam is Pakistan,Pakistan is Islam.
Over here we practice The Purest form of
Islam, Jeehad is are our birth right.
Insahalla Pakistan shall prevail.
I bet there will be no Pakistan after 20 years. It will be merged with India after India badly defeats Pakistan in any future war.INSHALLAH.
- Posted by Abdul Ansariyawn! why are we even here on this forum?
facts about pakistan:
inflation:26%+
GDP growth=4.6%
literacy=45%(of which 63% in madrassas)
president=mr 10 %
etc etc etc
I suggest we focus on china which is 15 yrs ahead but with western,russian,japanese help may catch up by around 2025-2030.
- Posted by Shantanu Chatterjeeindians consider themselves civilized n cultured nation. they should be thankful to muslim rulers that they introduced u with culture and civilization otherwise they have nothing except poverty, backwardness and the history of crualty against women and minority communities.
- Posted by sarroshall south asian countries seek God’s shelter against indian conspiracies.
my dear indians what do u know about pakistan? do u know the inner Stregnth of pakistani nation if not than u should read the pak history bt why only pak history u should read the history of muslim india. muslims ruled subcontinent for 1000 yrs n under there rule they practiced the laws of justice n equality they opened the ways of progress for all communities including hindues. they were muslims n the perfect believers of islam not like the muslims of today. no one can blame islam as a rigid and backward religion islam is the religion of humanity, peace and justice but yes it allowes Jihad when some crual and anti islam force does harm to innocent people. pakistan came in to being to implement that ideology of islam. and as for as idea that pak is a failed and terrorist is concerned world badly need to know the events of 1980s when unites states herself trained arab mujahedeens to encounter soviet invasion in afghanistan n pushed pakistan in that war those mujahedeen now opposing the foreign invasion under US command in afghanistan n nw they are terrorist wow what a approach.
- Posted by sadiai just want to say 1 thing pakistan is a strong country n a strong nation when it came in to being so mant hindu leaders predict that it will not stay on the world map for long bt pakistan is still on the world map n inshALLAH will live forever.
nw some one wrote that in india there are more muslims than in pakistan i think he forgot the anti- muslims riot in ahmadabad, destruction of BABRI MOSQUE by extremist hindues. crual treatment of indian muslims by hindus is the big prove that ideology of pakistan is still working n inshALLAH ANOTHER PAKISTAN is in process with in indian borders, tamil home lane is another future state , there are more than 20 separatist movements in india. so hopefully some gud results for minority communities in india will come in near future. OPERATION BLUE STAR to crush SIKH community is another example of tolerant india. history remembers the nation with strong morale values not because of their militry power and weapons. pray to ur bhagwans for the SALAMTI of bharat n dont worry abt PAKISTAN. I BET AFTER 20 YEARS WE WILL SEE NO BHARAT. INSHALLAH
@Amir Khan Gubodoer
You seem to be mentally retarded. This is the same way every Pakistani and Kashmiris think. Don’t bring you religion to everything. Why you need a religion first of all?. I am a Hindu and believe in Hindu gods and fear them coz that prevents me from any wrong doings like murder, robbery otherwise there is no difference between humans and animals. Man created this religions not god to make fellow human beings live in a civilized way. I question if there is anything wrong in my religion. I question caste system. I question some rituals in Hinduism. Why can’t you question yourself, your religion, its founder, your country. Agree you should be god fearing but bringing religion to everything makes you and your countrymen look primitive in the eys of others.
- Posted by SudhirBrother in Islam
- Posted by Amir Khan GubodoerAllah HU Akbar !!
Kuffar world needs to know that Islam’s other name is Pakistan. Pakistan is very well Allah’s own laboratory to produce perfect Musalmans.GOP will be well advised to throw out all the kaffir written books taught in schools and colleges and make sure every child , adult ,man , goat study the Holy Quran to acquire the correct knowledge and make Pakistan superior to all non Beliving nations.Allah has promised the full reward of Paradise to any one whosoever beocme the citizen of Pakistan.
This remind me of Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) once said ” Muslims must acquire knowledge by coming to Holy land of Arabia”. I eequest my Pakistani brothers and sisters to march toward Mecca and not to come back till become perfect Momin, Ghazi or Jihadi. Instead of trying to go thorugh the private hardship to get single entry Candian Visa , residency in Pakisatan gurranted such rewards on daily basis. Hindus are just feeling jealous.
why comparte the both .. they are Indians and Pakistanis smae people divided by creater –God! they both share the same desitiny dictated by divide and rule in the name of God. I only wish they were together.. would have been lot more fun.
- Posted by Himmat SinghWhat nonsense,ye people are talking about,Pakistan is strong,
will remain strong as long as Pakistan has its proud and erect
- Posted by Abdul Salim Gadha Khanmilitary behind it, and ISI standing strong and erect behind Military.
Pakistan as we know it today is a territory that needs to be pitied. It was founded on a premise of an Islamic State, whereas India formed a republic on the premise of a secular country. With no disrespect for the Islamic rligion, I can state, clearly Pakistan made a very great mistake. Then the Rivalry with a nation like India, which was so much larger, so much more civilized than the tribal warlord areas in Pakistan, albeit fueled by Western Interests did nothing to uplift the lives of poor Pakistanis who now find themselves in more of an abyss.Secularism with tolerance for all Religions would be their salvation
- Posted by Nithia ChatterjieHi friends…interesting responses and some of they have resorted to jingoistic flame fests while some have provided realistic comments base on facts.
As an Indian,i want not just Indians but all Pakistanis to be happy.Further,let there be peace in the entire world.OM SHANTHI…SHANTHI!
I earnestly hope that all ignorant forces,be it from any side be wiped out and let there be light.
Sanjeev’s article as much as it irks patriotic pakistanis isnt a myth but a fact and as usual truth is seldom sweet if u dont want to accept it.
For US,China is strategic competitor to engage with and contain it economically,militarily etc and India a Strategic partner to nurture (although not with the sole aim of containing China) while Pakistan is a Strategic Crony or a Henchman to fight war on terror and to be dumped later.
So the Indo-US deal is a Win-Win deal for both parties.Indians have earned the deal with their hardwork and policies right from the day we got independence like setting up world class educational institutions like IITs,IIMs etc.,research centers like ISRO etc which ultimately led to a huge pool of Indian Scientists and engineers who fuel our economy and make us Indians proud and also we have a very well written constitution and disciplined army!(though our politicinas are know for their corruption)and but nevertheless we had a very very stable democracy.
Having said this,i still feel India has a long way to go to eradicate poverty and other problems.(30% of indians are still below poverty line!) .I a not a jingoist but a realist.Both India and Pak are third world countries with a plethora of problems BUT the BOTTON LINE is while India has been progressing year by year and working to eradicate its problems and weaknesses the same is not the case with Pakistan.Day by day Pak is getting entangled in a mess politically,economically,culturally (radical islam)….Can any one deny this????
For most part Pak was ruled by dictators who were mostly engrossed with the sole aim of harassing India using cross border terrorism etc rather than improving itself.
Pakistanis shud forget about the Indian threat.No one wants a war nor we indians want to obstruct pak’s growth.ALL WE INDIANS WANT IS TOO PROVIDE GOOD EDUCATION,LIVELIHOOD,HEALTH CARE TO OUR POOR AND THUS WANT A HAPPY INDIA..and i am proud that we Indians are going in the right direction.
- Posted by VamsiThe need of an hour is that electricity to fuel economic growth of India than to build more nuclear bombs. I would like to see a day when all Indians are educated and have a decent standard of living. It’s also important to defend our country from external aggression and terrorists but i think India has enough nuclear weapons to destroy Pakistan many times and it should not be a prime objective to develop even more. First India should become a developed country and then think about the rest.
- Posted by SudhirI feel that Abdul Ansari did a better job than all those fanatics here.
- Posted by RajeshPeople you just dont get the picture. Do you belive for 10 billion dollar aid the General would side with you. They still celebrate 9/11 in the streets in pakistan (with the money you paid).
Why did Bush go to Iraq after 9/11 ?
Saddam never had an idea of it.
9/11 was hatched by the al-qaeda supported by the ISI.
You know where Mullah Umar and Osama are? No, but ISI does.In their safehouses in pakistan.
Its the raging frustration of a nation which could not succeed in the new world.If all those fanatics here think that the nuclear bomb is going to threaten India or US they are wrong.
Nuclear bombs are not used in the way they think they will do.
No one ever uses them , as for Pakistan it will implode not explode ,it just needs two things that it has now both of them working against it ,pressure and time, pressure from its economy taleban the US and ISI and its Army.
Its a beautiful setup created by itself,time it has plenty of that ,for the last sixty years it has nothing to say for itself, lets hope Barack Obama does a better job on them.
LOL… India comparing to pakistan. I guess Iraq is much less dangerous compared to Pakistan, atleast they(IRAQ) have the second largest oil reserves in the world, thats a lot of black gold beneath them to run their country. what about Pakistan No energy, No proper work force, radical fundamentalists, etc.
India has 150 million peaceful muslims, but unfortunately some indian muslim youth gets brain washed by these pakees dumb ISI, fundamentalists.
India for superpower. Go India
- Posted by IndianTHERE IS NO COMPARISION BETWEEN. INDIA AND PAKISTAN. INDIA IS FAR MORE ADVANCED AND BETTER PLACE TO LIVE THAN PAKISTAN. EVEN FOR MUSLIMS IN INDIA FEEL SAFE AND AWAY FROM THE TAG OF TERRORIST BECUASE THEY ARE INDIAN CITIZENS.
PAKISTAN HAS HIGH TIME TO COME OUT OF ILLUSION THAT OIL IN THE ARAB COUNTRIES IS GOING TO LAST FOREVER. IT IS MATTER OF 30 YEARS WHEN OIL GETS OVER FROM SAUDI. WHOLE WORLD WILL BE DEPENDING ON NUCLEAR POWER.
- Posted by RICKYSanjeev is very charitable, there has never been a comparison.
(1) India gradually crawled to strengthening its educational institutions, weakening feudalism and empowering weaker sections.
Pakistan sold educational institutions to wahabbism and militant Islam, empowered feudal lords, wiped out weaker sections, ethnically cleansed formerly East Pakistan and changed demographics of occupied Kashmir. Cultivated Army/ISI/Politicians who ended up being a black hole in its coffers, while the citizens eat grass to date.
(2) India stayed away from discriminatory groups NSG/NPT (that kept India out by picking 1968 as cutoff, when Indian tested the device on 1974) on principle and strived to gather the know-how guided by luminaries like Dr. Bhaba. In spite of various pressures to trade the know-how for commercial benefit, remained a responsible member of this world.
Pakistan chose a thief to lead the effort, stole technology from Europe, begged from China and eventually became Nuke-mart of the world for anybody who had a few $$$s to spare.
(3) India protected its fledgling industries and opened up to now have a self-sufficient economy. Indians have stepped out of their nation boundaries and mingling with outside world with confidence and head held high.
Pakistan, in a chronic obsession to incinerate India, dragged itself down filth so much that its citizens wish they didn’t have the “green passport” and cease to call themselves Pakistanis, preferring to rather piggyback on others reputation by calling themselves “South Asians/Sub Continent/Colonial India”.
(4) India, in spite of the pro-soviet bent, managed to keep its self-respect intact and worked hard for its place in the world.
Pakistan, proud of geographical location, sold its soveriegnity for a few $$$s and lives off others’ mercy. In the past decade, it traded self-respect and dignity for $12 billion from US, $3 billion from Saudi Arabia and unknown sum from China. Unable to offer anything worthwhile, now resorts to begging all over the the world showcasing each “promise of alms” as prized trophy.
So dear Sanjeev, in an effort to be diplomatic, you do disservice to the world that wakes up every morning hoping it is all just a nightmare.
- Posted by AkashSo long India servers US interest by helping contain China like Pakistan did with the containment of the old evil empire India will get all the toys… The bottom line is US interest..PEROID….
- Posted by Mo AkhtarHi,
- Posted by R.SridharObama (the US Democratic presidential candidate) said recently in an interview that Pakistan uses much of US aid to build an army against India.
With shift in strategic relationship now, US must ensure that aid it gives to Pak is not used against India.
Of course, India and Pak are in 2 different leagues. Pakistan belongs in the league of Nigeria, Bukino Farso and the like.
Sridhar
I’m glad to see that other Muslims realize how corrupt the Pakistani government really is. With an open democratic government India as a whole Muslims,Hindus,Sikhs,and Buddhists are all working together to modernize and escape the cycle of violence perpetrated by Pakistan time and time again in the 3 wars.
This treaty will help consolidate India as a future superpower while Pakistan will probably slip into anarchy or another Dictatorship
- Posted by D.S