Calling a Spade a Spade Excellent article!! The history of `71 is a lesson to all of us Asians to not base national ideology on religion (or other prejudices). Taking your argument a step further, even the partition of the subcontinent, which was on the basis of religion was a bad idea. While the drama of Bangladesh unfolded and played itself out rather quickly this other drama will take a long time (and many lives) to play out, before Indians and Pakistanis realize they may have been better off living under one roof. We `desis` have an uncanny knack for falling for traps set by Western powers be it the British of yester years or the powers of today. Divide and rule works so well!!

Nuclear Bomb for Sale I read both articles,which I thought were written in a balanced manner. In my opinion, neither India nor Pakistan can be solely blamed for the nuclear

proliferation. Both had clandestine nuclear programs that arose from a morbid fear of each other`s intentions. It is clear that India had an active program for years. It is also no secret that Pakistan had been getting China`s technology for years.

I do think that Kashmir (and I mean the whole of Kashmir, not just IOK or POK), is a fundamental issue that stands in the way of normal relations between the two countries. State sponsored terrorism by either nation in Kashmir is not going to solve the problem. As for the pleibiscite, it makes sense if you can restore the demographics that existed when the UN resolution was passed and not when the whole state is infiltrated with foreign mercenaries and the native Hindu population has been decimated/driven out.

Peace.