Pak preposterity & US complicity

Pakistan has done it again. Despite Prime Minister’s bonhomie, Islamabad says India, not terrorism, is the biggest threat. Sartaj Aziz, Foreign Affairs Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister, said this to United States. This preposterous remark comes in the wake of United States foreign Secretary of State John Kerry‘s suggestion to cut down on nuclear arsenal.

Pakistan claims that its military build-up, especially nuclear establishment, is deterrence against India. It’s a complete misrepresentation of facts in the subcontinent aimed at defending its military adventurism. A country condemned by the world for being the breeding ground of international terrorism, a country that made export of terror as its foreign policy cannot indulge in such a blatant act of preaching to India that never entertained hegemonistic ambitions.

Pakistan is a failed and flawed state. Its nuclear hawkishness poses a grave threat to the world. Fissiparous forces gained legitimacy in Pakistan state apparatus leading to a possible danger of nuclear terrorism emerging. Such an eventuality would be an existential threat to mankind.

On the other hand, India never took a hawkish position on nuclear issues. Even the United States and the members of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) recognised India as a responsible state with advanced nuclear technology. Islamabad should remember that the same powers refused to accede to the Pakistan’s plea for a similar status.

India has proved its nuclear strike capability over four decades ago. But, though it is not a signatory to discriminatory Nuclear Non Proliferation regime, India has demonstrated a voluntary restraint. While asserting its right to minimum nuclear deterrence, India voluntarily declared a unilateral moratorium on its nuclear weaponisation and announced adherence to nuclear no-first use.

But, Pakistan has been consistently indulging in low intensity conflicts across the border. Even countries like Russia, Afghanistan and even China have cautioned the world on Pakistan culpability in acts of terror on a foreign soil.
Therefore, it is utter hypocrisy on the part of Pakistan to demand that India reduce its nuclear stockpiles for it to reciprocate.

The United States asking Pakistan to reduce its nuclear stockpiles now is nothing but crying over spilt milk. It was the US during and after the Cold War that militarised Pakistan to the hilt. The US has violated and amended its own laws to ensure arms supply to Islamabad. Pakistan that perpetrates terror is taken as frontline partner in war on terror.

The US illegally supported the clandestine nuclear programme of Pakistan, knowing fully well that this country is a rogue state. The US now unabashedly urges Pak to limit its nuclear arsenal. Such a dubious hypocrisy cannot hide the American duplicity and complicity in its guilt in the South Asian arms race, especially in driving the region towards a disastrous nuclear flash point. Washington cannot absolve itself with such empty rhetoric. Pakistan cannot fool the world, especially India, with its absurd demands.