India initiates deadly arms race

India initiates deadly arms race
Sajjad Shaukat

On the one hand international community has been making strenuous efforts for world peace in the wake of global financial crisis and war against terrorism, on the other, by launching its first nuclear-powered submarine on July 27 this year, India has initiated deadly nuclear arms in South Asia where people are already facing multiple problems of grave nature. Majority of South Asian people are living below poverty level, lacking basic facilities like fresh food and clean water. While yielding to acute poverty, every day, some persons commit suicide in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka etc. Setting aside regional problems, and resolution of Indo-Pak issues, especially thorny dispute of Kashmir, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the occasion of nuclear submarine-a "historic milestone in the country's defence preparedness". Named as INS Arihant, a Sanskrit word meaning "destroyer of enemies", the submarine, and the first of five planned, is powered by 85-megawatt nuclear reactor and can reach 44 kilometres an hour (24 knots) underwater. It will be armed with 12 ballistic missiles. Singh further remarked: "We don't have any aggressive designs nor do we seek to threaten anyone." It becomes a big joke of the 21st century, reminding a maxim, "armed to the teeth, but no enemy", if we take cognisance of India's arms advances, and 34 per cent increase in its defence budget. Indian aggressive designs could be judged from the statement of its Defence Minister, A K Antony who stated in the Lok Sabha on July 20 that it was unfortunate that 70 per cent of defence equipment was still being imported, and now the government was working towards manufacturing state-of-the-art equipment indigenously. In fact, New Delhi with the support of US and Israel has presumed peace-loving Pakistan and China as their arch enemies, but they do not admit officially. In this regard, last month, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited India and finalised a defence agreement essential to allowing US companies to sell sophisticated arms to India as part of the pact of civil nuclear technology concluded during the Bush era. It is mentionable that after 9/11, both India and Israel which had openly jumped on Bush's anti-terrorism enterprise are acting upon a secret diplomacy, targeting Pakistan and China in particular and other regional countries in general. In this context, Indo-Israeli secret diplomacy could be assessed from the interview of Israel's ambassador to India, Mark Sofer published in the Indian weekly Outlook on February 18, 2008. Regarding India's defence arrangements with Tel Aviv, Sofer had surprisingly disclosed: "We do have a defence relationship with India, which is no secret" and "with all due respect, the secret part will remain a secret." As regards joint exercises, Sofer replied, "Certain issues need to remain under wraps for whatever reason." Notably, India's 'The Tribune' wrote on September 10, 2003: "India and Israel took giant leaps forward in bolstering the existing strategic ties", and Tel Aviv has "agreed to share its expertise with India in various fields such as anti-fidayeen operations, surveillance satellites, intelligence sharing and space exploration." Before it, Jerusalem Post had indicated about Israeli sale of the Arrow-II anti-ballistic missile defence system to India, revealing that "the US was a collaborator in the project". The Post further explained, while referring to the joint exercises in the Indian Ocean, "Israel could be acquiring an element of strategic depth by setting up logistical bases in the Indian Ocean for its Navy" On September 2, 2004, Indian Express reported: "Cooperation with the Indian Navy is seen as vital…Indian Navy plans to acquire 10 more Israeli Barak anti-missile defence systems, in addition to the seven already procured for its major warships. India has also approved the purchase of a $97 million Israeli electronic warfare system for ships…decided to launch joint programmes with Israel in the electronic warfare. With Israel's strength being sensors and packaging, and India's being fiber optic gyros and micro-electromechanical systems, both Israel and India can neatly complement each other." Besides recent purchases of arms, a few days ago, Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), G Madhavan Nair, verified that India's Radar Imaging Satellite (RISAT), launched on April 20 this year has started sending images. The launch displayed the clandestine Indo-Israeli jointly developed Advanced Mission Computers and Advanced Telemetry System. With the covert help of Israel and America, on 26th February 2008, India conducted its first test of a nuclear-capable missile from an under sea platform after completing its project in connection with air, land and sea ballistic systems. Next day, Pakistan's then Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir disclosed: "We are aware of these developments, which are taking place to put nuclear weapons at sea and it is a very serious issue". On May 10, 2008, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta revealed that New Delhi "will soon float tenders to acquire six submarines". Mehta while accusing Beijing, explained, "Indian Navy would keep a close watch on the movements of Chinese submarines which are operating out of an underground base in the South China Sea" and "wish to enter the Indian Ocean". However, under the pretext of China factor, America, India and Israel are plotting to block the sealanes of the Indian Ocean for their joint strategic goals. There are also other reasons behind US-led Indo-Israeli secret strategy. Fast growing economic power of China coupled with her rising strategic ties with Pakistan and the Third World-Balochistan's Gwadar seaport, connecting rest of the world with Central Asia irritates the US which wants to counterbalance China and subdue Iran through India and Israel. Owing to these reasons, US, India and Israel are creating instability in Pakistan - especially by backing Baloch separatists. In this respect, after meeting the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani stated on July 18 that during the talks, he also raised the issue of Indian interference in Balochistan. It is note-worthy that in May 1998, when India detonated five nuclear tests, the then Defence Minister George Fernandes declared publicly that "China is India's potential threat No. 1". New Delhi which successfully tested missile, Agni-111 in May 2007, has been extending its range to target all Chinese cities. With the help of Jewish-Hindu lobbies, Israel and India are equating the 'war of independence' in Kashmir and Palestine with terrorism. They also accuse Iran, Syria and Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border terrorism in the related regions of South Asia and the Middle East. If India considers Pakistan as its major enemy, Israel takes Iran in the same sense especially due to its nuclear programme which is also negated by the US. These countries are also against Pakistan as it is the only nuclear Islamic country. However, owing to common interest, these three countries are playing a collective secret game. Nonetheless, in reply to Indian new aggressive move of nuclear submarine, on July 27, a spokesman of Pakistan Navy, Captain Asif Majeed Butt said that New Delhi's nuclear submarine would destabilise the security paradigm in the Indian Ocean, adding, "it can trigger a new arms race in the region and all neighbouring states", while Pakistan "reserves the right to take measures." On the same day, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar made it clear that Pakistan was ready to challenge India's first nuclear submarine, urging that the country does not want war with any state. A spokesman of the Foreign Office also indicated similar views. In May, 1998, when India detonated five nuclear tests, Islamabad was compelled to follow the suit through its own atomic experiments. But Pakistan which so far relied upon the minimum nuclear deterrence has again been forced by India's induction of nuclear submarine to counterbalance the former. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir recently held detailed talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing for enhancing cooperation between the navies of the two countries. Without any doubt, responsibility goes to the US, Israel and other western countries which encouraged India by providing with sophisticated technology. Regrettably, India has entangled South Asia in a deadly arms race, thus endangering its neighbouring countries, Gulf States, and world peace.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com