Nuclear South Asia: An Explanation to America

Dear Mr.Siddiqui,

I found your explanation regarding Pakistan`s nuclear tests interesting and very readable.

Though I share your concerns regarding the dangers of a nuclear war, I find your observations regarding US`s bad treatment of its ``old friend Pakistan`` loaded with self-delusion.

I am surprised even after living in US you have not realized that US and Pakistan were never friends. US had some goals in the region and to fulfill them it needed a partner (more of an accomplice...) It found a poor and hungry country ready to dance naked at its tune for few dollars. The dance went on well until there was a need and as soon the need got over the US alms stopped.

If Pakistan thought of the dole as ``friendship`` then it was its own fault. There was no friendship and there will be no friendship between Pakistan and US (and for that matter between India and US) untill it raises itself to the economic standards of US.

China was as much a loathful beggar and dirty commie scoundrel for US until its economy boomed and it became a respectable country. Now Clinton is trying to kiss its ... from all positions described in Kamasutra!!!

So please don`t get delusioned that Pakistan is a friend of US. At most it can call itself a ``Chamcha``.

Please, don`t misunderstand that I am trying to belittle Pakistan. India has no better standing in US eyes.

Having observed the US society`s total lack of interest in these two countries makes me feel that nobody will shed a single drop of tear if India and Pakistan destroy each other. In this culture only money is respected.

Many of the americans I talk to, kind of wonder ``where do these beggars get off calling themselves our friend``.

We should all learn to know our ``aukaat`` and live with it.

Yours truly...

Good thoughts all in your article. I echo the hope for sanity and tolerance. I have one small gripe with a sentence you used about Kashmiri women,
`their women have been raped by Indian troops`. i would prefer this was phrased like, `Kashmiri women have been raped by Indian troops`. The reality perhaps is more near to what you wrote but I think rape is a heinous enough crime to stand without dragging abuse of the Kashmiri men into it.

I apologize if this seems pedantic.:-)

In reference to Bannerjee`s comments:

No, that statement doesn`t reduce the article to rubbish. That statement has little basis in reality and might have been motivated by the desire for preferential treatment by America. However, what really does bothers Bannerjee is that he can`t refute the essence of what is being said. Overall, the article is a fair representation of what has transpired between India and Pakistan and Bannerjee knows it. That`s why he has to nit pick.

What is sad is that there had been some degree of progress in the last few years towards a better understanding across borders, mainly through the intellectual community and to a lesser extent, the media. This was despite the fact that India continued to kill innocent people in Kashmir. Jingoist, myopic ``Bannerjees`` on both sides of the border, however represent the majority and their views are reflected in the events that have occured.

India has proven to the world that it is the aggressor and the more irrational party in the tension between these two countries. This whole nuclear thing has pushed us back many years in being able to work together. I`m not sure when either side will have the maturity to look rationally at the potential.