F-16s to Pakistan—Why Now?

#115 by taqat-e-parvaaz

[yes pakistan made some mistakes in 1971, but so did india. was there a report there?]

Here is an excerpt from the Hamoodur Rahman report.

``This became necessary in view of the vehement assertions made before the Commission by a large number of respectable witnesses drawn from various sections of society, including highly placed and responsible Service Officers, to the effect that due to corruption arising out of the performance of Martial Law duties, lust for wine and women and greed for lands and houses, a large number of senior Army Officers, particularly those occupying the highest positions, had not only lost the will to fight but also the professional competence necessary for taking the vital and critical decisions demanded of them for the successful prosecution of the war. It was asserted by these witnesses that men given to a disreputable way of life could hardly be expected to lead the Pakistan Army to victory.``

No wonder the Indian Army has beaten the pulp out of your Army every time there was a war. Stick it in your pipe and smoke it, dumbass!

#115 by taqat-e-parvaaz

[but theres no mistakes about kargil and that pakistan army commandos were butt raping skinny indian soldiers.]

Is that why Paki soldiers fled Kargil leaving behind the dead bodies of their fallen colleagues? Postmortem reports revealed that these soldiers had been eating grass because their supply lines had been cut off by the booming Bofors guns. And yeah, these guys didn`t get even veggie samosas to eat. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Looks like your ass got badly whooped, because you chose to ignore the piece says Pakistan had procured a discarded satellite and Musharraf proudly claimed that Pakistan was ahead of India in space technology. I`m sure all the beef has reduced the Paki`s brains to a piece of beef, which is why you guys couldn`t build a decent satellite while India launched its first satellite in 1981.

and finally, despite the below mentioned incident, the magnamity of the pakistani players and the pakistani nation....



Pak players visit cancer hospital, donate money

From our correspondent

JAMSHEDPUR: Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq and his teammates visited the Tata Cancer Hospital in Jamshedpur on Thursday and ended up feeling that there were so many more important things in life to deal with than the game of cricket.

``You go and meet these cancer stricken children and you wonder why all this fuss about a cricket series when there are so many other more important issues facing humanity, like finding a permanent cure for something tragic like cancer,`` Inzamam said in a pensive mood after the hour-long visit.

But for the young boys and girls in the children’s ward, just meeting the Pakistani cricketers was a dream come true for them and cheered them up for the day.

Inzamam was visibly moved when he was introduced to a five-year-old child who has been given 20 more days to live after suffering from blood cancer.

But the 14-year old Ismail also suffering from the same disease would not let go of Inzamam’s arm during a round of the hospital. ``Uncle, aap ko ghussa nahin karna chahiye,`` was the advice he gave to his hero whom he watched in quite a rage after geting run out in the second one-dayer in Visakhapatnam.

As the doctors and nurses taking the Pakistani cricketers around explained the various diseases and terminal illnesses afflicting the young children and older people, a number of the Pakistani players were clearly emotional and felt depressed.

``So innocent and vulnerable. It just makes you pray again and again and thank God for his blessings,`` wondered Danish Kaneria said after meeting with a 21-year-old girl who is in the early stages of throat cancer.

Shahid Afridi proved a favourite with most of the patients and he cheered things up when he recalled some funny incidents from his career for the benefit of the avid listeners.

Shahid, whose father himself is very ill and bed ridden, said visiting the hospital was the nicest thing the team could have done in India.

Inzamam, before leaving, had a quick impromptu meeting with some of his players and then announced a donation of Rs 100,000 for the hospital.

Re: # 113
when an army gets as whooped as it did, its quite expected that it would conduct an investigation over what happened. no one in pakistan is brainwashed as to what happened in kargil. yes pakistan made some mistakes in 1971, but so did india. was there a report there? why did india intrude in a personal matter? but theres no mistakes about kargil and that pakistan army commandos were butt raping skinny indian soldiers. no one denies this. :P

and yes, here`s a piece that exemplifies impeccable indian character and hospitality. the indian mind at work. i would guess some shiv sena fundo/RSS gaywad did this....



Fan held for hurling stone at Pakistan team bus


JAMSHEDPUR, April 7: An Indian cricket fan has been arrested for throwing a stone at the Pakistani cricket team bus, shattering a window and narrowly missing captain Inzamamul Haq, an official said on Thursday.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon after the Indian and Pakistani teams arrived at Ranchi airport on their way to Jamshedpur, where the third One-day International will be played on Saturday.

As the Pakistan team bus left the airport, a stone was hurled from the roadside where thousands had gathered to catch a glimpse of the cricketers, according to Pakistan team manager Salim Altaf.

``The stone broke the window pane and just missed Inzamam who was sitting nearby,`` Altaf said. ``I believe the man responsible has been arrested.`` Pakistan cancelled a scheduled practice session in Jamshedpur on Wednesday evening because of the incident, Altaf said.

``The boys were a bit shaken so Inzamam asked the team to take the rest of the day off,`` he said. ``I would like to believe it was a stray incident and we have not asked for any extra security. We would prefer to forget it and get on with the game.``

Pakistan trail 0-2 in the six-match one-day series after India won the opening two games in Cochin and Visakhapatnam. Pakistan`s first tour of India since 1999, which began on Feb 28, had gone off peacefully till Wednesday`s stone-throwing incident. -AFP

Re: # 112
heres a kick in your ass. i hope pimples dont form like they have in your fellow countrymens shri harish and shri arjuns. the second story appeared on MSNBC. i`ve added the first one just for good measure. shows what a chronic inferiority complex there is in bhindu land. veggie samosa? :P





Pakistani balloon causes panic in Himachal

Chamba: A Pakistani balloon found near village Chask Bhatori in Pangi tribal valley of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, adjoining Jammu and Kashmir`s Doda district, has caused surprise and panic.

The balloon, inscribed with slogans such as `Pak fauj ko slaam`, `Pak Zindabad` and `Dil Pakistan`, was discovered by villagers on Monday, who immediately informed police officials at Killar police station, the valley headquarters.

The balloon, measuring about two-and-a-half feet in diameter, was later kept in police custody.

Police sources said it appeared to be one of the balloons flown in the air by the Pakistan government on the occasion of their Independence Day on August 14.


As far as the microsatellites are concerned, I have something else to spank you with:


http://home.datawest.net/dawog/Space/e20010430secret_empire%20(space%20threat).htm

MSNBC.com
April 28, 2001

The Secret Empire: The U.S. Military In The 21st Century

The Threat Over The Horizon
Military cites 1998 failure of satellite as an omen

By Jonathan Broder, Special to MSNBC.com

WASHINGTON — How damaging would a concerted attack on American satellite systems be? Pentagon officials cite the 1998 malfunction of the Galaxy IV satellite, which shut down 80 percent of pagers in the United States, as an example of the disruptions that could follow an attack. The episode was deemed an accident. China, however, made it known that future malfunctions might not be accidental.

``FOR COUNTRIES that could never win a war by using the methods of tanks and planes, attacking the U.S. space system may be an irresistible and most tempting choice,`` said a report in the state-run Xinhua News Agency days after the malfunction.

Along with pager systems, the Galaxy IV failure also disrupted cable and broadcast video feeds, credit card authorization networks and corporate communications systems for weeks.

As things currently stand, satellites the military relies on are no less vulnerable than Galaxy IV.

In January, a two-year study by a panel of generals and civilian defense experts, including Donald Rumsfeld, the man who would become secretary of defense, laid out a host of emerging threats to U.S. satellites:

*Attacks on satellite ground stations: Such assaults could range from a physical attack on stations to computer hackers breaking into the networks that direct the satellites and receive their transmissions.

*Denial and deception: With the means to counter military space systems increasingly available on the international market, countries can foil reconnaissance satellites by learning their orbital and sensor characteristics and then hiding or disguising targets when the satellites fly over.

*Jamming: Many countries, including Russia, China, Iraq, North Korea, Iran and Cuba, possess electronic jamming capabilities to disrupt satellite operations. Pentagon officials say the chances of such capability falling into the hands of terrorist groups or individuals has increased with the miniaturization of jamming devices. Russia now markets a hand-held system the size of a cigarette packet that can jam Global Positioning Satellite transmissions for 50 miles. A slightly larger version can block transmissions for 160 miles. Both could be used not only against U.S. ground forces but also against aircraft.

*Ground lasers: Directed at an orbiting satellite, these high-energy beams can be projected into space to dazzle or blind a satellite’s sensors and cameras. Some U.S. military satellites are equipped with shutters to guard against laser attack, but many are defenseless, the report said.

*Microsatellites and nanosatellites: With the miniaturization of space system technologies, these small satellites range between 200 and 20 pounds and even come in sizes as small as a compact disc player. Highly maneuverable and packed with super-sophisticated electronics, they can zoom up beside other satellites, inspect them with cameras and transmit images back to Earth.

Weaponized microsatellites loaded with rockets or lasers are expected to emerge in the coming years, capable of disrupting, disabling or destroying enemy satellites. Among the countries that possess microsatellite technology are the United States, Russia, China, Israel and Pakistan.

*Nuclear detonation: The explosion of even a small nuclear device in space would destroy or damage nearby satellites and leave lingering radiation that would halt new satellite operations for months. Pentagon officials say all that is needed for an attack like this is a rocket and simple nuclear device. Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Israel and Pakistan, along with the five declared nuclear states, already have missiles that can reach the necessary altitudes, and either possess or are believed to be developing nuclear weapons.

New Technologies

Some technologies to protect U.S. satellites from attack already exist, as a result of SDI research. The most basic is a two-stage missile that is launched from a high-flying F-15 fighter jet and homes in on enemy satellites that are threatening American spacecraft.

Many U.S. military satellites also have been ``hardened`` to protect components against radiation damage from nuclear explosions in space and outfitted with ``stealth`` technology to reduce their radar profiles. Others carry anti-jamming electronics and shutters to deflect enemy lasers. Sensitive surveillance equipment also has been placed on a number of non-military satellites in an effort to diversify and hide intelligence-gathering capability.

New technological efforts involve the development of advanced sensors and methods of propulsion that would enable American satellites to detect and evade pursuing killer satellites. In a strange hybrid of 19th and 21st century technologies, one space firm is experimenting with a satellite propulsion system that runs on steam.

But research is not only confined to purely defensive countermeasures. Next month, in what could be a major advance for space-based offensive weapons, NASA engineers at Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., will test a revolutionary unmanned aerial vehicle that someday may orbit the Earth and, upon command, strike targets elsewhere in space or anywhere on the globe.

Called the Hyper-X, the aerial vehicle has been described by Army sources as a cross between a ballistic missile and cruise missile. Equipped with stealth technology, the Hyper-X uses a new kind of air-breathing jet engine that produces speeds of up to Mach 10, or 7,200 mph at sea level, NASA says. At such hypersonic speeds, the Hyper-X could not be intercepted.

Loaded with a conventional warhead, the Hyper-X also would fall outside the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, which bans the deployment of nuclear weapons in space. In its first round of tests, the Hyper-X will be dropped from the wing of a high-flying B-52 bomber. But NASA officials say the new engine technology, known as scramjet — or supersonic combustion ramjets — eventually could open the way for a new generation of reusable space planes that can take off and land like conventional aircraft. In space, such spacecraft also could be used for anti-satellite operation.

#111

Instead of crowing like an idiot, if I were you I would be scared shitless. What you are looking at is an Army that has the courage to critically examine itself and admit to its flaws. This happened during Kargil. They have gone and overhauled the entire set-up there that is why they are discussing this in public.

Contrast that with the ``Pure`` army. They do not have the balls to conduct an review off what happened in Kargil. They supressed the Hamdoor Rehman report on 1971 war till India Today leaked it out. They still brainwash nincompoops like you that Kargil was done by Jihadis and Bangladesh holocaust never happened. You guys actually won all the wars with India including 1971

# 109

Not only are you pathetically ignorant, but it also appears that you are new to chowk. Check this archives...search for ``Satellite`` and read the article called ``ONLY 5 Million``

I urge you to wear some padding next time. Kicking your ass is too easy...

eat your words.....
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/SSC/CSER/UOSAT/press/Surrey.html
Located in new purpose-built premises, the Surrey Space Centre, with 130 staff and postgraduate research students, houses state-of-the-art satellite research and construction facilities. The facility’s Mission Operations Centre contains a fully automated satellite tracking and data collection system, currently responsible for nine microsatellites in low-Earth orbit.

Training foreign engineers through its Technology Transfer Programme, the Centre will continue to build on its successes with Korea, Portugal, Pakistan, Chile, South Africa, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Through a unique combination of academic and commercial activity, Surrey provide intensive and in depth programmes at relatively low cost and risk, enabling emerging countries to take their first steps into space.

more to feast your eyes....hahahaaaaaa

Indian army confesses to over-estimating N-prowess

By Jawed Naqvi


NEW DELHI, Feb 22: The Indian army had falsely believed that its new found nuclear prowess would guarantee perpetual peace with Pakistan, the army`s newly released secret assessment of the Kargil fiasco says, according to excerpts published in the Outlook magazine on Monday.

In its cover story headlined ``War Against Error,`` the magazine says that the Indian army ``was shocked and awed by the Kargil war.`` Five years later, the army`s internal report lists the blunders it made, and steps to avert them in the future.

``The battle fought on the icy heights of Kargil between May and July 1999 is one that will not be easily forgotten by India,`` the magazine says. ``Five years after a war in which 474 officers and men lost their lives, there has been much introspection in the country`s security establishment on what went right, and what went wrong, in Operation Vijay.``

The peace process, kicked off by the Lahore bus ride of Prime Minister Vajpayee, and the fact that both India and Pakistan had gone ``overtly nuclear`` led the army top brass to believe that war was a distant possibility,`` the army assessment admits.

The assessment also recognises another factor ``that caused much heartburn within the army`s higher echelons`` - the fact that there were no inputs from the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) spy agency.

The decision to take a dispassionate look at the war and to record its history and disseminate it among top generals of the army was taken two years ago when General N.C. Vij took over as the army chief. He had witnessed the conduct of the war at close quarters as the Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO).

Gen Vij decided to put together an internal assessment documenting crucial lessons from that war, culled mostly from top-secret operational notes with the military operations directorate. Such an assessment, it was felt, would help the army`s senior commanders to learn ``valuable lessons of the art of war`` --a war that was fought in recent times and won, albeit after paying a heavy price.

The self-assessment made the army take a hard look at the many blunders that were committed during the Kargil operations - the critical failures, which happened at various levels.

wait, wait.....my favorite part...........hahahahaa


``Senior commanders failed to deliver, the intelligence setup proved ineffective, battalions were led by people too old to climb razor-edge peaks in sub-zero climes (HAHAHAHAHAA), rifles that were introduced midway through the war created problems and the delay in deploying air power during the conflict prolonged the war,`` the report says.

Romair#103:

People more qualified than me have entered into the type of discussion you want to have. But I do agree with one of your statements:
``If India wants to be a leader, it needs to be the elder brother, not the big brother.``
I believe the former Indian PM Gujral tried to be exactly that. However, for that to happen, Pakistan too has to change its mindset. It would have to accept itself in the same role that Canada does in North America. At one time, Canada too had unfriendly relations with the US. Now, any Canadian politician, let alone military leader, who thinks of developing a credible deterrent against the US would be sent to a mental asylum. No Canadian leader would think of stating every second day that peace with the US is not possible unless the core issues are resolved. No Canadian leader would hide US`s worst mafia leaders, let them give interviews to media and then deny their presence. The only permanent security for Pakistan lies in its accepting a Canada-type status and, yes, for that to happen, India should adopt the so-called Gujral doctrine.

You could validly argue that India is not as strong vis-a-vis Pakistan as the US is vis-a-vis Canada. If so, that would be an argument for India to aquire arms at an even greater speed than it is doing now.

Re: # 106
when you give your boyfriend harish hyd oral pleasure, do you talk out of your ass this much as well? man, thats gotta be quite an art! here`s some pics for your indian quality. veggie samosa shri arjun??

http://www.netgate.nildram.co.uk/IndianArmyAPC2.jpg
http://www.netgate.nildram.co.uk/IndianArmyAPC1.jpg

and my favorite.....http://www.netgate.nildram.co.uk/hindu.jpg

#82
would you like to bring concrete proof of the talking out of your ass you just did? or would you like to prove that bhindians have chronic inferiority complexes when it comes to pakistan? hehehe...certainly, some of you bhindus are pathetic!

#101 by tahmed32

At best this is a necessary evil (i.e. in case of the US which must strengthen its military alliances with Pakistan and India in order to meet the emerging Chinese threat), and at worst it is a vainglorious attempt by an undemocratic regime to project military power

America has learnt its lessons from the 1990s when US naively imposed nuclear sanctions on Pakistan. This monumental blunder cost America considerable leverage with Pakistan. And for what benefit? Pakistan still continued its nuclear program relentlessly. And this nuclear program was India-specific, not meant to be used against US or Israel. The F-16s sale [and the US silence over A.Q.Khan scandal] are just indications that US wants to develop a long-term relationship with Pakistan.

However, I disagree with your comments about Pakistani perspective. I don`t believe this sale is a ``vainglorious attempt by an undemocratic regime to project military power``. Pakistan already has enough Ghauri and Hatf missiles to project military power. The F-16s are just an alternate delivery mechanism for nuclear weapons and denying India air superiority in a future limited war.

Pakistan`s economic situation is now qualitatively better than 1999. We can now afford these fighter jets `without eating grass`, affecting the various economic development programmes in progress or giving up the JF-17 project. These jets are a long-term investment.

sup with dat?

I thought pakiland could make sophisticated things(like OR gates etc)....

(Paki )Govt may nod to car engine imports from India

* Pak-Suzuki may venture with Maruti

By Fida Hussain

ISLAMABAD: The government is considering to allow Pak Suzuki Motor Company to import engines from India for Suzuki cars, assembled in Pakistan as the Japan has almost halt rolling out low power engines, official sources told Daily Times.

The Maruti Motor Company, India’s Suzuki Motor franchise, has established it engines manufacturing plant at Chandigarh, the capital of the northern states of Punjab and Haryana. Spread out over 114 sq. km. Chandigarh is home to big industrial undertakings as well as more than 2,500 small-scale industrial units.

The official said that the government is considering allowing the import of engines from Chandigarh, as it would cost much lesser than the amount being paid on import of the same from other options.

Pak-Suzuki may be allowed to import engines of 800 cc and 1000 cc cars from India in 2005-06 in line with the government efforts to reduce the car prices in local market, the official said.

Chandigarh is in the close proximity with Pakistan and the concerned authorities are assessing the import cost of engines for Suzuki cars in Pakistan.

#105 by bbabu on April 7, 2005 3:22pm PT


Why is so hard to eat grass now ???


Paki soldiers in kargil tried that when their supply lines were cut off and mushy abandoned them....turns out, grass doesn`t taste good...and it doesn`t fill you up...

Romair #97

`` India and Pakistan should not purchase anything they want. It is ridiculous. Comparing them to Canada is even more ridiculous. Canada does not have hundreds of million of people living below the poverty line, like India. Or tens of millions living below the povery line, like Pakistan. How can one simply look at just % of total GDP as a criteria?

You are infact justifying the arms race........``

You had a Prime Minister who said that he will eat grass but won`t give up his pursuit of nukes. Why is so hard to eat grass now ???


`` I am not looking at India as the, ``enemy.`` I am merely saying that other countries will sell to South Asia, as long as India remains the biggest importer of arms. The other thing I am looking at are the actual purchases India makes. If you are my neighbor and can already kill me three times, then you go on an buy more arms that specifically target me, then who is at fault? ``

Why is so concern about Indian arm purchases if you have nukes.

`` This is what I cannot understand about varoius comments from our Indian colleagues. There seems to be very little introspection. At some stage, Indians have to look at their ballooing arms purchases, and realize the harm it is doing to peace in South Asia. One cannot have one`s cake and eat it too, i.e. continue to purchase tanks, ships, fighter-bombers etc. than can only be used against Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. (not China) in an offensive manner. And then state that others should not consider India`s desires as aggressive. ``

You would have to explain why Indian weapon purchases hurt South Asian peace process or peace per se.

`` The onus lies on India to not purchase offensive weaponry, in the first place.........There is absolutey no reason for it to do so............And this is what is keeping South Asia in an arms race, which is useless.........Why in the world does India want to go from a 3-1 superiority over Pakistan to more than 5-1? And whom else can it use all this equipment against, which cannot be used anywhere else except on the plains of Sind and Punjab? ``

What is your problem with India acquiring Patriot missiles, F-18/F-16, Phalcons, Su-30 MkI etc. ? Does it stop a Pakistani nuclear missile attack ? It ensures for some devastating retaliation.

`` Is it planning to attack China? And how will it do so with tanks or aircraft carriers, even if it wanted to? ``

It can stop a Chinese attack.

Romair #103

`` The worst thing India can do to a South Asian peace process (which has to happen before we can all become chess players) is to arm itself furthur. You are jumping the gun, if you think this should be the first step. First lets get peace in the area. Then lets get the economic union in place. After that, India can be the elder brother and arm itself to the teeth, if it wants, and no one would be bothered (though I would prefer it, even then, if India armed itself with weapons that can be used against Australia and not only against Pakistan). ``

Indian government will build its forces to counter external threats. Unless Pakistan plans to attack India or pull a Kargil please explain why Pakistan would be concerned with the acquisition of Phalcons, Su-30 MkI etc. Pakistan is supposed to have a nuclear deterrent.

`` By arming itself now, it is furthur ruining chances of peace. Achieve peace first, then arm (jointly, like NATO). Not arm first and then keep hoping for peace. What`s the hurry? Can`t India wait another ten years. Is there some country it just has to attack?

And why in the world is there a need for India to buy offensive weaponry? When it has hundreds of millions of people who can barely eat and go to school. Who is it going to fight with? Can`t it just cool it for a while and let everyone solve their poverty problems? What need is there to play chess, when one cannot even buy a glass of milk to feed ones kids? Chess playing should come after everyone is fed...... ``

Indian military spending is 17% of budget. For Pakistan it exceeds 50%.
Indian spending as part of GNP is under 2.5%.

Tell us why does Pakistani army need 500,00 troops if they plan to use nukes to deter Indian aggression.

`` The first step in this regard would be stop buying cannons and tanks that can only be used against Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. I find it strange that you cannot comprehend this simple point. What do you expect Pakistan to do if India buys 500 tanks, which are designed to roam across the Punjab plains? Who else in the world is India going to use them against? China in the mountains? Japan? USA? ``

Obviously Indian military is built to fight realistic opponents. Why would India prepare to fight North Korea or Sudan when they are far away.

`` Can`t you, at least, accept the fact that India should stop buying Pakistan-specific or any South Asian neighbor-specific offensive weaponry? Specifically when it already has so much of it already............ ``

What is an offensive weapon ?

`` If India wants to be a leader, it needs to be the elder brother, not the big brother. If it cannot even get South Asian countries to accept it as a leader, then how in the world will it lead anything else. Leadership is earned, not given. Nor can it be achieved through threats. Currently India has serious border issues with Pakistan. It has border skirmishes with Bangladesh. Its PM was assisinated by a Tamil Sri Lankan. It has issues with the govt. of Nepal. On top of that it is purchasing more and more arms!! ``

Tell me if you wanted to be treated like Indian Muslims treated the way Sinhalese treated Sri Lankan Tamils. Tell me if you want to live under a monarchy.

`` This is why, no country in South Asia is willing to accept it as a leader, even though it is three times larger than all of them combined and should be the natural leader............ ``

Nobody gives a damn what Nepali kings, Sri Lankan/Bangaldeshi elite, Burmese junta thinks about India. All of them have serious flaws and have serious internal issues of their own creation.

`` Let me give you an example: Forget about Pakistan. In 1971, East Pakistan had three divisions in its Army. Now Bangladesh has 7 divisions in its Army. Why is its Army mroe than double the size that even Pakistan had in East Pakistan, if it feels no threats? ``

Let me give you one more example:

Pakistan and Bangladesh have the same population. Yet Pakistan has a military 3-4 times the size of Bangladesh.

If you had seven divisions in 1971 maybe Pakistan could have defended East Pakistan. It looks like somebody was stealing Bangladeshi resources for their benefits.

For the record I prefer money to be spent on infrastructure than military weapons. It is hypocritical of Romair to be making arguments when the likes of him in Pakistan are looking for any opportunity to make weapon purchases from anyone.

Dost-mittar #102: ``I think that you and I are thinking along different trajectories. Your thinking is stuck in the India-Pak strait-jacket, and you are creating all kinds of criteria why India should also think of itself as a rival of Pakistan only. I want the two countries to think of the longer term as subcontinentalists rather than rivals; as shatranj ke khiladi rather than shatranj ke mohray in the international chess game.``

Yes, we are thinking along different lines: you are thinking along incorrect ones and I am thinking along correct ones........My thinking is not stuck in an India-Pak strait-jacket. My thinking states that there is no need for any kind of jacket. You seem hell-bent upon getting out of one jacket and into another one.

The worst thing India can do to a South Asian peace process (which has to happen before we can all become chess players) is to arm itself furthur. You are jumping the gun, if you think this should be the first step. First lets get peace in the area. Then lets get the economic union in place. After that, India can be the elder brother and arm itself to the teeth, if it wants, and no one would be bothered (though I would prefer it, even then, if India armed itself with weapons that can be used against Australia and not only against Pakistan).

By arming itself now, it is furthur ruining chances of peace. Achieve peace first, then arm (jointly, like NATO). Not arm first and then keep hoping for peace. What`s the hurry? Can`t India wait another ten years. Is there some country it just has to attack?

And why in the world is there a need for India to buy offensive weaponry? When it has hundreds of millions of people who can barely eat and go to school. Who is it going to fight with? Can`t it just cool it for a while and let everyone solve their poverty problems? What need is there to play chess, when one cannot even buy a glass of milk to feed ones kids? Chess playing should come after everyone is fed......

Neighboring countries can only think in longer terms, if the largest country in the area is not perceived as a threat by its neighbors. And the onus of that is on the largest country. Not on the smaller ones. If today, USA lined up 1000 tanks in Michigan and North Dakota, rest assured Canadians would be concerned.

The first step in this regard would be stop buying cannons and tanks that can only be used against Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. I find it strange that you cannot comprehend this simple point. What do you expect Pakistan to do if India buys 500 tanks, which are designed to roam across the Punjab plains? Who else in the world is India going to use them against? China in the mountains? Japan? USA?

Can`t you, at least, accept the fact that India should stop buying Pakistan-specific or any South Asian neighbor-specific offensive weaponry? Specifically when it already has so much of it already............

If India wants to be a leader, it needs to be the elder brother, not the big brother. If it cannot even get South Asian countries to accept it as a leader, then how in the world will it lead anything else. Leadership is earned, not given. Nor can it be achieved through threats. Currently India has serious border issues with Pakistan. It has border skirmishes with Bangladesh. Its PM was assisinated by a Tamil Sri Lankan. It has issues with the govt. of Nepal. On top of that it is purchasing more and more arms!!

This is why, no country in South Asia is willing to accept it as a leader, even though it is three times larger than all of them combined and should be the natural leader............

Let me give you an example: Forget about Pakistan. In 1971, East Pakistan had three divisions in its Army. Now Bangladesh has 7 divisions in its Army. Why is its Army mroe than double the size that even Pakistan had in East Pakistan, if it feels no threats?