What Pakistan’s Bomb Could Not Buy

#67

The contention of many Pakistanis in the forum that it is India which is spearding arms-race in the subcontinent is wrong. India does not spend excessively on defence. India spends a bare minimum on defence commensurate with its size and requirements.

It is Pakistan who lives in a false notion that India is going to annihilate Pakistan so it must match India bullet-for-a-bullet, missile-for-a-missile. Well, this is their judgement. It is this wrong notion that makes Pakistan spend more than what is required on its army and defence. Nobody is going to buy the argument that India should curtail its defence expenditure so that Pakistan also does the same. Both the countries have to see their defence requirements, to be bare minimum--not to say.

My sincere advice to Pakistanis is that first they should get out of this annihilation-syndrome otherwise democracy, first-rate ecomony,IT, high technology will forever remain a dream for them. To my mind, Pakistan should have a small army but extremely high-tech in nature and a strong modern Airforce for defending against India, if required. On the contrary, Pakistan maintains a large low-tech army(which can take over the country at will but is still not sufficient to defend against India--so you rely on the nukes) and a shoddy airforce.

#22 MAJUMDAR

It is true that Nuclear Bomb does have certain deterrence in a conventional war. Agreed. But in these days of globalisation, no sensible country is going to fight a conventional war with the other(except ofcourse the USA). The others would resort to subversion, insurgencies, rebellions etc. The bigger and economically more powerful will be in a better position to win this covert war.

Bangla Desh can also happen again now--nuclear bombs notwithstanding--but it will be through other means.

So overall in my view, the 1998 explosions by both the countries have not served any purpose for any of them. Neither it has increased the stature of these countries. As far as my knowledge goes, in the world nuclear corridors, India & Pakistan are more known as Nuclear Jokers than Nuclear Powers.

Re:arjun_m

Forget about Pakistan for a moment and look at what your namesake Arjun Singh is doing to India. At the rate he is going, half of IIT/IIM/AIIMS will be reserved category from next year. He is also sharpening knives to have same level reservations in the private sector. There goes India`s economic growth and chances to become developed. Not only that, it is tearing apart India`s social fabric as Bihar style casteism is goin to become part of the National discourse.

If Arjun Singh has his way, we will fall behind Pakistan very soon and lick dust. Pakistan does not have any reservations issue. If they ignore jihad and focus on economy and merit, they will kich India`s a$$ in less than 5 years, while we struggle to deal with 50% reservations. At least the muslims had a Jinnah who saved them. The upper caste, merit based people in India have no savior. They will essentially be consigned to living in a fourth world, substandard Bihar type country forever. So dont celebrate so much about Pakistan`s weakness. India is heading towards destruction at the hands of its politicians.

behram1 #70

`` Agreed to some extent. It seems that Pakistan is not getting those foreign remittances as much. This should be eye opener for some ``

Where are Pakistanis going to work ?

Gulf has been tapped out.

USA is off-limits due to shaky economy and post 9/11 limits.

Australia and Canada restrict intake to rich immigrants.

Europe has a sluggish economy. They take a few immigrants

Malaysia is taking a few Pakistanis. But they are losing factory jobs to China.

`` Also, having 43% of the GNP tied up in foreign debt should be an eye opener for Ali Bhai in educated circles of Pakistan. Why is it not? Who is robbing Pakistan? ``

The problem is not the 43% debt per se. It is what was done with all that money.
I would not mind running a 100% debt if it meant having great universities and great physical infrastructure.

{The prime minister said Pakistan is an economy of $120 billion and 160 million people.}

With 43% tied to foreign loan (or approx. $50B). Is this considered good? Can someone explain?

Or are the paindoos in Islamabad are going nuts as usual?

http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=1111

Fund to facilitate investment of up to $1bn in the private sector

By Khalid Mustafa

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday announced the launching of $300 million Fund by two leading private equity firms one from the Middle East and the other from Pakistan. The Fund would facilitate investment of up to $1 billion in Pakistan across a range of industries over the next four years.

While addressing mediapersons, the prime minister described the launching of $300 million Fund as historic occasion as this is the largest fund Pakistan will have through private investors.

Abraaj Capital, one of the leading private equity firms in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asian region and BMA Capital, one of the prominent investment firms in Pakistan’s financial markets, have launched $300 million Abraaj-BMA Buyout Fund L P.

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the Abraaj-BMA Fund would be raised from investors all over the Middle East. It is a private sector venture where the government has nothing to do except providing an enabling environment to attract investment.

Shaukat Aziz said this is beginning of a long journey where many other investors will come to Pakistan. He expressed satisfaction that every major name in the Middle East business circles is coming to Pakistan voluntarily. He was confident that the increasing investment would further boost growth, create more job opportunities and contribute towards stronger and prosperous Pakistan.

The prime minister said Pakistan is an economy of $120 billion and 160 million people. It is growing at 6 to 8 percent and the government is pursuing second-generation reforms to sustain this rate.

He said this year the economic growth is likely to be 6.6pc and per capita income has substantially increased to $846. He held out an assurance that the government would continue to pursue the policy of liberalisation, deregulation, good governance, transparency and privatisation.

The prime minister said there is great potential for investors to invest in projects including those relating to manufacturing, engineering, infrastructure and others.

Replying to a question, Shaukat Aziz said our privatisation plan is on track. He was confident that the process would lead to more efficiency, productivity and effective management of utilities. In this connection, he referred to the future plans of the new management of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) and hoped that it would bring better results for the consumers. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Officer of Abraaj, Arif Naqvi said they have decided to launch the largest fund in view of the impressive economic performance of Pakistan and bright prospects.

He said the government’s increasing focus on privatisation and the extremely conducive regulatory environment for foreign investment present great opportunities for business. He said the Abraaj-BMA fund is targeted to raise $300 million and through co-investments will facilitate investment of up to $ one billion in Pakistan over the next four years. He said the fund has already attracted deals worth $50 million in various sectors.

The CEO of the firm said the target internal rate of return would be 30pc. Naqvi said the Fund would facilitate investments of up to $1 billion into Pakistan, across the range of industries over the next four years. “We believe that the partnership between Abraaj Capital and BMA Capital is perfectly positioned to leverage the present opportunities.”

congrats pakis..your years of investment in jihad has paid off..islamic terrorism has now seeped into the Paki DNA..

SSP vows to establish caliphate worldwide

* Around 5,000 SSP activists rally in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Activists of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) vowed to establish a global caliphate, beginning with Pakistan.

In a rally attended by thousands of activists of the banned group to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on Friday, leaders of the SSP called for an Islamic theocracy in Pakistan. “The concept of nation state is an obstacle in the way of the establishment of Khilafat. We will start the establishment of Khilafat in Pakistan and then will do so across the world,” said Zaheerul Islam Abbasi, a former general who was sacked and arrested in 1995 for trying to topple the government of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Activists distributed pamphlets in Islamabad preaching jihad and hatred against Shias, as their leaders delivered fiery speeches to a crowd of around 5,000 late on Thursday.

They also sold video compact discs of the beheadings of American soldiers in Iraq, and militant activities in Afghanistan and Pakistan at the rally, which they said was convened to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) this month. One of the organisers thanked the Islamabad administration for allowing the rally, which was held under floodlights in a bus depot, with hundreds of riot police watching on. SSP is known to have close links with Jaish-e-Mohammad, a militant group fighting in Indian-occupied Kashmir and with links to Al Qaeda.

Government might allow Sipah-e-Sahaba activities

Re: # 66 by bbabu on May 29, 2006 6:32pm PT

{The increase in oil prices has halted the rise in Pakistan`s foreign reserves. }

Agreed to some extent. It seems that Pakistan is not getting those foreign remittances as much. This should be eye opener for some

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/05/248liners.html

Also, having 43% of the GNP tied up in foreign debt should be an eye opener for Ali Bhai in educated circles of Pakistan. Why is it not? Who is robbing Pakistan?

Rockets red glare, (American) bombs bursting in (Paki) air..

US planes violate Pak airspace

How the North-West can be won?

By Behroz Khan

The news is quite disturbing for the people and the governmnet of the NWFP; it has been reported that the United States has warned that it will bomb any part of the province in pursuit of `terrorists`.

The warning, it is said, was conveyed to the NWFP governor, Khalilur Rehman and of course to the chief minister, Akram Khan Durrani, by none other than President General Pervez Musharraf himself at a meeting in Islamabad. The tone of the message, an insider tells TNS, is tantamount to bullying.

``The president told the governor and chief minister that Americans have warned that those who are hiding in the Frontier and elsewhere will be bombed out,`` a source privy to the meeting revealed, requesing anonymity. The warning left the president angry as well as concerned, the source added, saying this could be an epilogue to increased target hitting by umanned Drones on Pakistani territory.

The clergy-led government in the Frontier, already on the defensive over its silence on military operations in tribal areas and US air strikes, is taking the new warning as a declaration of open war. Confirming that President Pervez Musharraf has informed him of the new dangers ahead, Akram Khan Durrani has said that the US has warned to go after the so-called `terrorists` even in the settled areas of NWFP, if the attacks against the Americans and their allies continued in the neighbouring Afghanistan.

``What use is our strong defence if we cannot defend our innocent people against such naked aggression,`` said Durrani when approached for comments regarding the fresh US warnings. The US authorities, official sources said, are of the opinion that extremists and terrorists take shelter in the tribal areas along the Pak-Afghan border and parts of NWFP after carrying out terrorist attacks in the eastern and southern provinces of Afghanistan. Pakistani nationals have been identified carrying out suicide bombings and fighting the US and allied forces in Afghanistan.

Insurgency, what insurgency?

Pakistani Taliban take control of Waziristan

TANK: When the Pakistan Army’s front line, in their war against terrorism, moved away and the Talibans took control of his home town, Baidar decided that it was time to leave.

“The government is helpless. The Talibans, not the religious students but militant Taliban, are in complete control there, “ said the 30 year old Waziristan tribesman. Baidar closed down his medical store in Bazaar at Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, and moved to Tank, just across the boundary in NWFP.

“The businessmen and the educated people are in real danger of being killed by the Talibans on suspicion of being informers of the America government,” said Baidar, who unlike many others, dared to give his name.

In the words of President Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistan Army has defeated and chased Al- Qaeda out of South Waziristan in all the encounter that took place between late 2003 to early 2005.


According to the Intelligence and government officials, majority of the deeply conservative and largely illiterate people support the self-styled Taliban of Waziristan, which is worsening the situation. These Talibans advise men to grow beards and veil their women, ban the cameras, and are trying to stop people from watching television or listening to the music. President Musharraf cited a report he had received of televisions being set ablaze in Malakand. He said, “This is a Talibanised mindset. It has spread and needs to be stopped. Now we are in a different ball game...h

The government is trying to set up councils of respected tribal elders and administrators, but will take time. In the meantime, President Musharraf says military operations must go on, although the critics fear Pakistan will suffer from the backlash for years to come.

He also warned that the Taliban’s influence was spreading from tribal areas to the neighboring areas. In Tank, armed men roam the streets at night on motorcycles. They’re Taliban, townsfolk mutter in fear. “It is just like cancer. It is bound to spread if not properly treated,” said a senior security officer in Peshawar. reuters

Taliban killed 150 pro-govt Maliks

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: Taliban forces have so far killed 150 pro-government tribal Maliks in the North and South Waziristan Agencies and are openly challenging the writ of the government by engaging a number of security forces’ personnel in the area, the federal cabinet was told on Wednesday, sources told Daily Times.

#63 by bbabu on May 29, 2006 6:22pm PT


There is no arm`s race between India and Pakistan.


India has already forced Pakiland to increase its defense budget..Check out the latest numbers..all this paki whining about India increasing its defense budget is because Pakiland can`t keep up....

Compared to India, Pakiland still spends a higher % of it`s GDP in it`s military and a lower % on education..the results are obvious..the paki military controls Pakiland while the success of Indian education has left Pakis in the dust...

behram1 #55

`` Pakistan has 43% of the GNP tied to foreign debt. Why?
Why is it that Pakistan`s foreign reserve still stuck at $10B?
Who is stealing Pakistan`s wealth?
Why are those free press wallas, not articulating this is their articles? ``

The increase in oil prices has halted the rise in Pakistan`s foreign reserves.

HisExcellency #33

`` The greatness of a nation is measured by the challenges it overcomes to achieve its goal. The challenges to Pakistan`s nuclear programme were enormous. We had scant resources and faced stiff resistance from US-Israel-Europe. Yet we built a formidable nuclear program. ``

Israel did nothing of value to impede Pakistan`s nuclear program. Stealing from Netherlands and translating Chinese instructions into Urdu qualify for achievements :-)

`` 3- Notwithstanding the requisite dissenters, the majority of Pakistanis value their national security and ideology (Islam) more than anything else. ``

Does that include dumping the Taliban after a ``friend or foe`` phone call from a foreign state ?

HisExcellency #28

`` Baluchi nationalists do not speak for Baluchistan. Baluchistan rejected them in the 2002 elections. ``

you really believe all the staged managed elections

Pakistan had nukes before 1998. Nukes prevented war from breaking out in 1986 and 1990.
The nuclear tetsing did not change anything.

It is hard to mount a Kargil when your opponent`s air force has satellite guided weapons. Indian Air Force with their current arsenal of satellite and laser guided weapons would annihilate 2000 odd intruders in a matter of days. Indian Air Force will get better with their new toys from Uncle Sam.

The Indo-US nuclear deal has little to do with breeder reactors. Indo-US nuclear deal is an attempt to provide electricty for Indian manufacturing units. It increases economic gap between India and Pakistan in the long run.

There is no arm`s race between India and Pakistan. India is too big for Pakistan. All Pakistan can do is to maintain a minimum deterence.

There is nothing in Pakistan`s military history that would lead to any neutral observer to believe Pakistan can take sizable swaths of Indian held territorry and hold it. Even if Pakistan captures few chunks in Kashmir Indian army could seize vast areas of Southern Punjab and Sind in response.

Manto....wutz up wit dis?

SECOND OPINION: Was Abdus Salam honoured by us? —Khaled Ahmed’s TV Review

GEO (April 9, 2006) Dr Mehdi Hassan told host Khursheed Nadeem that scientist Abdus Salam was not recognised by Pakistan because he was a Qadiani. He was sought to be contradicted by a cleric discussant saying Pakistan gave recognition to Abdus Salam. Khalid Zaheer stated that Dr Mehdi Hassan was right, Pakistan did not give Abdus Salam the recognition he deserved as a Pakistani.

The cleric was lying. Abdus Salam was not honoured. He was threatened by the clergy; and the state got scared. Police was sent to his grave where it erased from his headstone the word Muslim. This was done under the Constitution. Now the headstone reads “Abdus Salam the first (blank) Nobel Laureate”. There is however a postage stamp with his portrait on it. Prof Khalid Zaheer is to be complimented that as a scholar of Islam he spoke the truth.

The point is: what kind of recognition did Pakistan give to Abdus Salam? Unofficially he was invited to Punjab under a Muslim League government but this was a sneaking recognition by Chief Minister Nawaz Sharif, just as Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif secretly invited blasphemy-victim Akhtar Hameed Khan of the famous Orangi Pilot Project to meetings in Lahore, while his brother Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif could not get him off a fake blasphemy case in Multan.