Sadanand Dhume’s article, published recently in the infamous Wall Street Journal, is based on an illogical notion that nuclear facilities can be targeted and destroyed with no retaliation in sight. The author fails to remember that Iraq and Syria had been severely weakened before their nuclear facilities were destroyed. They didn’t have any real retaliatory powers in the first place, and Iraq was tied in a costly war with Iran.
No one can roll back Pakistan’s nuclear program, which has enjoyed 27 years of overt status.
It is a matter of fact that no one can roll back Pakistan’s nuclear program, which has enjoyed 27 years of overt status. The program acquired maturity even before 1998, and so, as of now, is too complex and developed to be destroyed or dismantled by any power or by any means as naively depicted by this author.
The author attempts to propagate the allegations that Pakistan’s nuclear program is a result of theft and charity is a result of his loss for words, and betrays his clear frustration with India’s strategic paralysis.
It must be mentioned that India itself misused the plutonium produced by the Canada-India Reactor, U.S.-supplied (CIRUS) reactor, for conducting its nuclear test in 1974. CIRUS was ostensibly for peaceful nuclear energy purposes. As such, India is guilty of duplicity itself and stands on no moral high ground to blame, accuse, or dictate anyone, especially Pakistan.
The author highlights the Indo-Israeli plans to attack Kahuta in the 1980s, noting in a one-liner that “the attack didn’t happen”. Intentionally forgetting that it was Pakistan’s credible threat of retaliation against its adversary that deterred the attack. The author’s choice of words implies that the attack was stopped due to Indo-Israeli goodwill, which has never existed for Pakistan. In this context, the author’s signaling for a strike against Pakistani sites in the current era is nonsensical.
If Pakistan deterred India in the 1980s Indian threat when Pakistan didn’t possess any nuclear weapons capabilities, then one only needs to imagine how India may threaten Pakistan for a large-scale strike now, when Pakistan possesses both credible nuclear weapons and the related delivery systems. Nonetheless, Pakistan doesn’t rely on its nuclear weapons as a first line of defense; rather, it boasts one of the most capable army, navies, and Air forces in the world, whose conventional capabilities are credible enough, as demonstrated in the recent India-Pakistan crisis, to deter any misadventure by the enemy.
India misused the CIRUS reactor to conduct its 1974 nuclear test; hypocrisy knows no bounds.
A nuclear Pakistan marked as a blunder for Indian national security only means that India’s purported national security is based on bullying its smaller neighbors. The only objective that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program has achieved is credible deterrence and defense against an aggressive and belligerent India and any other country mad enough to breach the country’s sovereignty.
The author refers to Western sources citing Pakistani backing of alleged terrorists killing Indians on Indian soil. However, western sources have been biased in their reporting as far as terrorism and their links to Islam are concerned – sensible minds do not take western reports too seriously. The veneer of impartiality and credibility of Western sources has been seriously eroded. A clear example of their bias is their overt silence over Israel’s massacre of Muslims in the Middle East. Also, when Israel illegally attacked Iran’s sites, the West was silent, but as soon as Iran rightfully retaliated, they blamed Iran for the escalation. Their attitude towards Pakistan can’t be much different.
Pakistan has been at the receiving end of global terrorism and has suffered more than any other during the US Global War on Terror. Western and Indian sources find it convenient to falsely blame Pakistan for all the terrorist activities they suffer from.
The author, while blatantly ignoring frequent Uranium thefts across India, is concerned about non-existent terrorists roaming around Pakistan’s safely guarded nuclear facilities, who, according to him, may steal a nuclear bomb, which has been prepared for takeaway by Pakistan’s nuclear authorities. It would suit him much better if he were concerned about fissile material proliferation at home.
Pakistan deterred India in the 1980s without a nuclear arsenal; imagine the balance today.
The author’s lack of sensible journalism also leads him to believe that Pakistan’s military is filled with religious extremists. Not taking into consideration that those in charge of the weapons go through rigorous security clearances and that their competencies are measured, which is commonly termed the Personnel Reliability Program (PRP). Clear rubbish being pushed by mindless Indian journalists and so-called experts, and it’s a shame that the Western outlets provide editorial space for such nonsense. This only shows Western complicity in the 5th Generation War being waged on Pakistan and the Islamic World.
Contrary to what the author wants to believe, Iran has never initiated a direct conflict with either the US or Israel. In all instances of direct conflict, it was the West, with its support of Israel, that initiated a war with Iran, the latest example being the Israeli unprovoked airstrikes on Iran. Iran undoubtedly has been vocal against both the US and Israel, and it has chanted “Death to America – Death to Israel”, but it has never initiated a direct conflict as irresponsibly.
Pakistan, too, has been subject to such blackmail by India and its western partners. 25 years into the 21st century, and Pakistan has yet to, according to the Indians, obliterate the Hindutva regime. Pakistan has upheld robust signaling that has always been for peace and primarily self-defense only, and has never acted irresponsibly, especially about its nuclear capabilities.
The veneer of Western impartiality is shattered by their selective outrage and silence on Israel’s aggression.
The only thing the Indians have to sell to the world is their fake cries about terrorism emanating from Pakistan when, in reality, there are hundreds of separatist movements active inside India, whose issues stem more from local grievances against the Indian regime rather than tacit or overt Pakistani support.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.
