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archive: Nuclear bombast

Nuclear bombast

Editorial
Indian Express
June 26, 1999.


    Title: Nuclear bombast
    Author: Editorial
    Publication: Indian Express
    Date: June 26, 1999.
    
    Nawaz Sharif has thrown in his lot with the generals
    
    Pakistanis should be worried by the new posture Nawaz Sharif has been
    adopting.  There are unmistakable signs of political desperation in it
    which could lead the country deeper into trouble.  As the complete
    diplomatic isolation of Islamabad becomes apparent, Pakistan's prime
    minister is being increasingly at tacked at home for failing to secure
    his country's interests.  Among the more outspoken critics are the
    Pakistan People's Party and the Jamaat-e-Islami, a former president
    and former ISI chief and influential sections of the media.  It is at
    this juncture that Sharif has chosen, for the first time since India
    began air and ground operations in Kargil, to make a trip to a forward
    army post, seven kilometers from the Line of control if the morale
    boosting visit to Pakistani troops in the company of the army chief,
    Pervez Musharraf does not convey the message that Sharif has thrown in
    his lot with the generals, his rhetoric leaves no room for doubt.  In
    seeking a political victory by outdoing the generals in belligerence
    he is giving up all effort to pull Pakistan back from the inevitable
    disaster which will occur if the army is allowed to pursue its
    brinkmanship in Kargil.
    
    There is noting particularly subtle in Sharif's warning about
    "irreparable" losses to both sides if the conflict in Kargil escalates
    into a war.  It is part of the irresponsible nuclear blackmail
    Pakistan's political military establishment regularly resorts to in
    times of difficulty.  Pakistan's foreign secretary who was more in
    tune with the generals than his prime minister in early June was an
    early sabre-rattler; politicians from Pakistan- Occupied Kashmir
    followed suit.  Pakistani nuclear threats are used by politicians to
    shore up sinking popularity at home, by the military to try to
    compensate for their inferiority vis a vis India in conventional
    weapons, and in the diplomatic arena to try and frighten the
    international community into intervening in Kashmir.  All three
    elements play a part in Sharif's statements in Gultari.  Far from
    having its intended effects on any front, nuclear blackmail will
    worsen Pakistan's crisis.  The sheer irresponsibility of the prime
    minister's rhetoric could compel a severe political reaction at home
    because, leaving aside the crazies, no one in Pakistan is foolish
    enough to believe the country can gain anything by reckless talk on
    the top of the recklessness on the LoC.  Nuclear threats may be
    routine for Pakistani politicians but in the midst of a military
    misadventure, diplomatic isolation, economic crisis and political
    instability, they are the final blow to Islamabad's credibility.  What
    that will do immediately is increase international pressure on
    Islamabad to withdraw its forces from Kargil.  It will probably lead
    to Pakistan being starved of multilateral finance and military
    supplies more rapidly.
    
    The long- term effect will be to put Pakistan into the category of
    states no on wants to do business with because of its unreliability,
    irresponsibility and unpredictability and its total disregard of
    international norms of behavior.  The Pakistani people must hope that
    the US mission led by General Anthony zinni has succeeded in bringing
    about a more sober perspective in Islamabad.
    



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