The Nuclear Noose Around Pakistan’s Neck

Hoodbhoy wants to be Pakistan`s Edward Said.... sadly he is no more than its Fouad Ajami.

Being against Nuclear weapons I would have supported this article had Hoodbhoy had the moral courage to publish it in a Pakistani newspaper instead of the Washington Post or the New York Times... instead he chose to be part of media assassination that has little to do with nuclear proliferation. It seems to me that this fella will even sell his mother for an enhancement of reputation... maybe that is the price one has to pay for being called a progressive liberal by the world.

My views are identical to those of the good doctor but I don`t see how he would convince his countrymen of them if he keeps this up ...

Pakistan`s fate sadly is that on the one hand we have losers like A Q Khan and on the other hand we have people like Hoodbhoy who are willing to sacrifice Pakistan for their own personal ego and scores.

-YLH

The article does raise key issuses about the safety of Pakistan`s nuclear weapons.

The fact remains that Pakistani nuclear program from its start in 1970s to 1998, before Pakistan became a nuclear weapon state, was covert and immune from accountibility. A. Q. Khan had massive monies at his disposal with instructions to get the required materials and no question was asked where this money was going. A lack of accountibility breeds a willingness to flout the rules and that is what happened in case of A. Q. Khan. Once Pakistan became a overt nuclear power, it had to establish its bonafides and that maintained trying to bring some sense of accountibility and discipline to its nuclear program or risk being identified as a state supporting nuclear proliferation.

What is happening should have been done in 1998 and now, it seems that it is being done under pressure from Uncle Sam and that will leave a bitter taste in the mouth of Pakistani people and the political parties will use this to lampoon the government`s capitulation to the Americans. It has to be done now and it must be done and if that means locking horns with the MMA and its visions of pan-Islamism, then the Rubicon has to be crossed.

More harm has been done to the interests of Pakistan in the name of Ummah and Islam than by anyone else and this has to stop and national interest has to reinforced and made the top concern of the nation over everything else.

The article, in itself, fails to address the issues, because instead of balancing the perspective of Pakistan with the world view, it indulges in character assassination of Pakistan and carries the white man`s burden. Dr. Hoodbhoy had a good opportunity, given the platform of Washington Post, to bring some perspective to the debate, but he did not live up to his expectations.

Ciao

mantolives #1 ``Pakistan`s fate sadly is that on the one hand we have losers like A Q Khan and on the other hand we have people like Hoodbhoy who are willing to sacrifice Pakistan for their own personal ego and scores. ``

Agreed.

re. Mantolives #1:
``Being against Nuclear weapons I would have supported this article had Hoodbhoy had the moral courage to publish it in a Pakistani newspaper instead of the Washington Post or the New York Times

But you should know that Dr. Houdbhoy is every bit as critical of the Pak govt. and state in the local press. His rails against the army are well-known.

``... instead he chose to be part of media assassination that has little to do with nuclear proliferation.``

Just because he expresses his views in a media that admittedly is biased, does not mean that he is a willing party to any wrongdoing. Perhaps you missed the concluding paragraph of the article?

`` It seems to me that this fella will even sell his mother for an enhancement of reputation... maybe that is the price one has to pay for being called a progressive liberal by the world. ``

Or maybe there are other possibilities and motivations that you would do well muster up the humility to recognize your possible ignorance of? (After all, we are not dealing with some two-cent politician here, or even your everyday intellectual.) In any case, the statement above is in poor taste, though I`m sure the good doctor could not be bothered to point that out to you.

``My views are identical to those of the good doctor but I don`t see how he would convince his countrymen of them if he keeps this up ... ``

Well, have you taken any steps to `convince` your contrymen of the dangers inherent in the free-trade of nuclear technology, or in some other facts pointed out in the article above?

Pakistan`s fate sadly is that on the one hand we have losers like A Q Khan and on the other hand we have people like Hoodbhoy who are willing to sacrifice Pakistan for their own personal ego and scores.

Please explain how Dr. Houdbhoy is ``sacrificing`` Pakistan, what specific steps YOU would take toward the purpose of denuclearization, (or at least proliferation), and how you think it would make a differnce if Dr. Houdbhoy limited his contributions to the local media.

rgds,
PM

I agree with the point that this issue should be kept within the confines of Pakistan. The West and specially western media is running out of Enemies to invade and they will be all to happy to pick upon this as another ``proof`` of how bad Pakistan really is. Indians and NRIs will obviously use this to further their cause of Pakistan Bashing, which we will witness on this board as well.

We can never expect the World Media to ever question the more obvious links of Nuclear Technology being transferred over to Israel from the United States. That is a nonissue as far as the western demagogues and their supporters go. The likes of John Kerry and the US Media will pick on this like a bunch of wild dogs, Mr Hoodbouy could have weighed the facts better.

There should be accountability indeed but not at the cost of providing ammo to the western loud mouths aiming to further demonise us as a nation state.

Hmm Mantolives..who says he didn`t try to get it published in a Pakistani newspaper?

I should point out Pakistan not being a signatory to the NPT has no legal obligation to punish Qadeer Khan. What we do have is a super power gone mad which is looking for a pretext to enter Pakistani territory and make Pakistan give up it`s Nuke programme.

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It`s certainly a noose, or another albatross around our necks!

YLH:

Pervez Hoodbhoy has written enough about this in Pakistani papers as well; whatever the papers are willing to publish. Many times the Pakistani papers refuse to publish this sort of highly controversial material. I know of several instances where papers refused to publish his articles and he had to resort to either foreign journals, or email lists to send out to his friends. That`s one.

Second, he has published about Pakistan-India nuclear arms race in Pakistani papers as well. You have probably read all that.

If this article came from someone who was sitting in an ivory tower in the West and taking pot shots at Pakistan, I`d probably agree with you. Prof. Hoodbhoy, does not just live in Pakistan, but over the last 30 years or so has done enough for the country that you or I will not be able to do in five life times.

I know Hoodbhoy well enough to know that he would not take kindly to being called an Edward Said, and would dismiss anyone who does so as an idiot and a sycophant. The man is just trying to be himself. (The rhetorical flourish in the beginning of your post was more about name-dropping, than anything else.)

It is one thing if you disagree with him, and tell us why you do. But after acknowledging that your views are identical to his, you are taking shots at him because you want to look like the custodian of Pakistan -- whatever the hell that means in your own mind.

It is customary for people who wallow in mediocrity, to elevate their own status -- usually in their own minds -- by taking pot shots at people way out of their league, pretending that they are equals. Yaar I hope you don`t take it as an insult. I roughly know how much water you stand in in terms of accomplishment, talent, or contribution to society. You have a long way to go, before -- if ever -- it becomes you to take such shots.

I have the honor of knowing Hoodbhoy personally and am very proud of that. And you can call it whatever, but I do get incensed at lesser beings, who, without knowing the man, or his work, drag his name through mud.

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``To do away with the bomb, bomb technology and the menace of their proliferation will require the United States, as the world`s only superpower, to take the lead by reducing its own nuclear arsenal, as well as dealing with all proliferators, including its ally Israel, at the same level.``(Hoodbhoy)

you said it -- the biggest Proliferator of the world -- THE HYPOCRIT -- THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .....``we need to develop low yield nuclear tipped laser guided smart bombs to bust the bunkers in future Iraq wars``

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to hear lectures on Humanity and Human rights from Bush`s United States --that incarcerates CHILDREN in the Guantanamo Gulag -- is like hearing sermons from a Practicing PROSTITUTE on the Virtues of CELIBACY.....

EID-ul-ADHA MUBARAK to all Chowkies.

This article has nothing new in it. The content has been covered in many columns of national newspapers on a daily basis. I would only like to comment on the following piece, somewhat written emotionally:

``But Khan`s nuclear bravado was of little concern to any of Pakistan`s governments, civil or military. Indeed, since May 1998, when the country conducted several underground nuclear tests, Pakistan has flaunted its nuclear status in a manner wholly different from the world`s other nuclear-armed countries. Nuclear nationalism was the order of the day as governments vigorously promoted the bomb as the symbol of Pakistan`s high scientific achievement, national determination and self-respect, and as the harbinger of a new Muslim era. ``

My question is that how did the writer get convinced that other countries did not show any nuclear nationalism, did not claim it to be a highly scientific achievement (we know at least one country that chose the lead scientist to become President of the country), did not make the bomb symbol of national determination and self-respect, etc.? Was it like they went for nuclearization as Malaysia went for building Proton car, Dubai decided to open its real estate market for the foreigners, or London decided to bid for the 2012 Olympics?

As to the crap ``the harbinger of a new Muslim era``, the writer surely got carried away. No Pakistani Government ever claimed it to be ``Islamic Bomb or harbinger of whatever``. This nonsense only came from the religious parties and few people on the street whose view cannot be taken as representative of all Pakistanis.

founders of present pakistan,

Jinnah with his operationalisation of TNt created pakistan. Zia gave it a lasting sustainence by blasohemy laws and hoodood and created nadrassas that have given identity to pakistan. Dr Khan gave the ziaic pak identity an edge, he produced the bomb so that jihad under the mushroom clouds gave cover for the global jihadic operations. Supplying bomb technology tom iran ad libiya hwlped the pak ideology of TNTism wider reach.
Now one idol has fallen, a pak hero has hit the dust, at least in the global palence. Zia is gone, idolised by only the jihadists, now termed the terrorists. Only one remaining is the creator of TNT, the earlier pakistanis deal with him the better.

There is only one quick and easy salvation for the teaming millions of pakistan, the libiyan option, dismantrle the bomb and all will be forgivrn. If not it will be a slow iraquisation. Any type of technology will be denied, and slowly pakistan will return to the period of the book.

Pakistan is not able to adapt to the forthcoming changes. the removal o0f quotas in textiles, that account for 80 percent of pak exports. All that pakistan is trying to get is secondhand textile machinery from russia. Even modern textile machines have been denied to pakistan.

Libiyan option is the next what the general has to take. Having put his tail between the legs and ran from kashmir, the world expects the similar retreat from the bomb.

As a Nation this will be a test for all. Will we in all our Patriotic Fervour support the government to reprimand those who have in the disguise of national security earned millions for their personal advantage? Will the army reprimand its own generals and ISI agency who must have been part of these unlawful gains? Is this law to be applied to all those army and civilian heads who are sitting in the civil institutions earning mega dosh through open corruption? Or will this be another bow, another cower by a General who is increasingly in servitude to the US Whims?

This is indeed a test for all....

I dont know the reason, what Mantolives thought when writing #1. Most of the material in this article is actually carefully put forward not to bash Pakistan. Only thing, I can think of is that the contents of this article do not match the title. Most of the material in this article has nothing to do with noose around Pakistan`s neck.

The lavish lifestyle and spendings with publicity seeking by Dr. A. Q. Khan have been well known to people who have lived in Islamabad. However, general feeling was that he comes from a rich family inheriting decent amount of wealth.

What kind of an idiot general Musharraf would be, who has been DGMO and core commander during the period of 1987-95, to not know the corruption in an institution under full military control and military officers dealing with the security of nuclear program aslo making money besides scientists. The brotherhood of generals knows each other well about their money makings. When people of Islamabad can suspect it, an ultimate insider can not claim to be ignorant of it unless he is a dumb-ass. It is as stupid as Musharraf claiming to be unfamiliar with the activities of jehadis and militants organizations controlled and supported by his own intelligence.

It was only after Iran and Libya spilled the beans and US pressure made him the fall guy but other heads from the military must also roll. The money making on deals is as common a Pakistani elites trait as apple pie here. The money making from buying planes, guns, tanks, used satellite, ccontracts for construction of major projects, privatizing state sector industries and the list goes on and on. Many former generals have billionaire children sitting in the assemblies and nobody has ever questioned them.

In addition to corrution, Pakistan ideology tied to Islam and thinking of a true Muslim at decision making position creates problem of split loyalties - better the Muslim better the transnational loyalties to Ummah. Many times these loyaties are just the opposite of a poor nation-state - Pakistan.

Further to my post # 14, I would agree with culminating para of Mantolives` at # 1 i.e. ``Pakistan`s fate sadly is that on the one hand we have losers like A Q Khan and on the other hand we have people like Hoodbhoy who are willing to sacrifice Pakistan for their own personal ego and scores. ``

I believe that people like Hoodbhoy would go any distance to have their articles published in a biased western publication like WP. To top it up unfortunately, people like him will never know the criticism thrown their way by readers of Pakistani origin for he and his ilk don`t visit Chowk.