Indo-US Nuclear Deal
Rizwan Ghani
July 15, 2008
To astute observers it was clear all along that Delhi would finalize the deal. Manmohan´s errands to Tokyo for securing Japan´s support and progress on the so-called nuclear safe guard pact with IAEA outside NPT are cases in point. Congress keeping true to its history ´bought time´ to stay in power and towards the end of its term in office (it) is heading for ´sealing the deal´. If Congress is on its way to pawn India´s future and compromising country´s independent foreign policy, Samaj Wadi Party (SWP) deserves the credit and in the process pushing the country towards eternal political subservience, economic exploitation and neo-colonialism.
Congress is heading for political abyss because it has failed to deliver in terms of Common Minimum Program in Rural India constituting majority of the voters, control run-on inflation and reduce fuel prices. Congress by coaxing SWP into coalition has hurt causes of minorities and their coalition at this stage has shown that they both do not care about their voters- a stark reminder of fate of abandoned minorities in France, UK and rest of the Europe. It explains the hypocritical double standards of leaders, law lords, law enforcers and heads of international platforms cherry picking when it comes to respecting and implementing minorities constitutional liberties and international rights.
Delhi by making public its ´secret´ nuclear safe guard pact has shown that it is all set to fulfill its end of July deadline and now the clock will tick for Bush who will have to get the Congress´ approval before January. The way Democrat led Congress has given Bush wiretapping bill to protect telephone companies at the cost of violating American public´s 4th Amendment rights and sidestepped torture issue it is difficult to argue that US Congress will stand up to protect nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) to make the world a safer place. Instead, it should not surprise anyone if US Congress falls in line to help corporate America earn its share in one trillion US dollar India´s domestic market and allow Bush a walkover.
It is equally disappointing that IAEA has been engaged with India and has finalized an eyewash nuclear safe guard pact outside NPT. The pact for want of details and common logic begs the question. How can a pact make the world safer when it is outside NPT? Secondly, which magic clause of the pact will keep India from using the American technology, uranium and support to improve its military nuclear program and arsenal? If there is one, it is about time Washington, Delhi and IAEA share it with rest of the world to help improve NPT, apply globally to check nuclear proliferation and bring Indian nuclear program under NPT. The fact of the matter is India´s nuclear safe guard pact is a protection against NPT and a bluff to cover double standards of UNSC, IAEA, EU, Washington, Berlin, Paris, and London using EU and UNSC to sanction Tehran and other nations´ using nuclear energy admissible under NPT for peaceful purposes.
If true, isn´t it time to do away with NPT and let countries decide what is best for them. Since it is not an option, therefore Japan and Australia as member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) should forthwith withdraw their support for Indo-US deal including promised supplies from NSG. Similarly, China and Russia should oppose the deal because it is a violation of NPT, on moral and technical grounds to help make the world nuclear free and safer place for our future generations. In this regard, the struggle of Indian Left, nuclear scientists against 123 deal despite its limited nationalist scope needs to be supported to keep prospects of helping Delhi´s sign NPT.
The major nuclear powers should instead uphold their pledge to rest of the world by completing decommissioning of their existing nuclear warheads in accordance to decommissioning treaties including Washington and Moscow. Unfortunately, the extension of Missile Defense shield in Europe capable of carrying nuclear warheads shows that America has no regard for global demand for NPT, denuclearization and decommissioning of existing nuclear warheads.
The talk of Indo-US deal as ´strategic American foothold in Asia- the new center of gravity´ fails to highlight historic American reliance on use of force, regime change and creating aid dependent economies to protect its market, energy and political interests. The questions that Islamabad needs to ask are: 1) Will India follow American policy in the region including CARS, Kashmir and now Afghanistan. 2) If yes, how will Islamabad protect its vital interests including blocking of alleged India-Afghan linkup through Northern areas and avoiding arms race in the region. 3) Should Delhi execute Indo-Afghan linkup plan what will be the policy of SCO, GCC, OIC in the region and UN, EU, West and NATO. 4) Role and protection of SCO members in case of NATO´s attack on SCO member and non-NATO ally. 5) What if India allows Europe like Missile Defense System on its soil or allows use of its land and space against regions security and economic interests. 6) Is Indo-US deal a first step in the direction?
It is only matter of time that number of 750 million abandoned common Indians living below two dollar a day will multiply as corporate business grabs a trillion US dollar Indian retail market. The ruling Indian elite will facilitate the rampage by withdrawing constitutional backed rights of public to subsidized food, and securities including health, job and salary structure. The sheer scale of ensuing poverty can wobble any state of its axis. Delhi may not be paying attention to the economic fallout of a military deal but Pakistan following Afghanistan and its own economic challenges cannot afford another failed state on its borders.
Islamabad as welfare state should therefore consolidate its internal strengths including agri-sector to protect public constitutional rights in terms of jobs, education, health care and security. It is only possible if Islamabad is ready to shun foreign aid that comes with strings attached.
Pakistan as opined by PM Gillani and reiterated by the FM during his US visit should fence its border, deploy security forces on its side of Pak-Afghan border and ask Kabul to put in place a credible Afghan security apparatus before blaming others. Next Pakistan can also secure its national interests by linking Kabul´s cooperation to its access to Pak-Afghan trade routes and adherence to international travel practices.The issue of repatriation of 2.5 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan should also be expedited because with pledged 24 billion dollar aid Kabul can easily take care of its 32 million population @ 100 US dollar a month for next five years. Reportedly, an Afghan teacher and a soldier are paid US 50 and 100 dollars per month respectively.
Islamabad should therefore demand withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan (and Iraq) to help restore peace in its neighborhood, region and ME. Similarly, in step with Spain and other European nations Islamabad should also withdraw its support at tripartite level including alleged use of bases by the occupation forces for the safety of its people, end Afghan occupation and restore peace in the region.
Finally, whatever tactical and strategic expectations Delhi has from Indo-US deal it is for sure that the deal introducing new arms race will undermine peace in the region. It will increase poverty in the region by undermining average Indian´s financial interests and constitutional rights. The ongoing evolution of French social welfare state into ´free market economy´ and revival of militarism in Japan costing the country economic slowdown are cases in point. Similarly, Europe´s focus on Mediterranean Union shows continent is preparing to protect its business and political interests in the East. Therefore, NATO´s role in has ended in the continent. It is therefore hoped that global community will support NPT instead of bilateral deals and call for withdrawal of forces from Asia and ME to make this world a safer place. If only it is realized.
Note: The article was also published in Pakistan Observer (www.pakobserver.net) on July 15, 2008.
Congress is heading for political abyss because it has failed to deliver in terms of Common Minimum Program in Rural India constituting majority of the voters, control run-on inflation and reduce fuel prices. Congress by coaxing SWP into coalition has hurt causes of minorities and their coalition at this stage has shown that they both do not care about their voters- a stark reminder of fate of abandoned minorities in France, UK and rest of the Europe. It explains the hypocritical double standards of leaders, law lords, law enforcers and heads of international platforms cherry picking when it comes to respecting and implementing minorities constitutional liberties and international rights.
Delhi by making public its ´secret´ nuclear safe guard pact has shown that it is all set to fulfill its end of July deadline and now the clock will tick for Bush who will have to get the Congress´ approval before January. The way Democrat led Congress has given Bush wiretapping bill to protect telephone companies at the cost of violating American public´s 4th Amendment rights and sidestepped torture issue it is difficult to argue that US Congress will stand up to protect nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) to make the world a safer place. Instead, it should not surprise anyone if US Congress falls in line to help corporate America earn its share in one trillion US dollar India´s domestic market and allow Bush a walkover.
It is equally disappointing that IAEA has been engaged with India and has finalized an eyewash nuclear safe guard pact outside NPT. The pact for want of details and common logic begs the question. How can a pact make the world safer when it is outside NPT? Secondly, which magic clause of the pact will keep India from using the American technology, uranium and support to improve its military nuclear program and arsenal? If there is one, it is about time Washington, Delhi and IAEA share it with rest of the world to help improve NPT, apply globally to check nuclear proliferation and bring Indian nuclear program under NPT. The fact of the matter is India´s nuclear safe guard pact is a protection against NPT and a bluff to cover double standards of UNSC, IAEA, EU, Washington, Berlin, Paris, and London using EU and UNSC to sanction Tehran and other nations´ using nuclear energy admissible under NPT for peaceful purposes.
If true, isn´t it time to do away with NPT and let countries decide what is best for them. Since it is not an option, therefore Japan and Australia as member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) should forthwith withdraw their support for Indo-US deal including promised supplies from NSG. Similarly, China and Russia should oppose the deal because it is a violation of NPT, on moral and technical grounds to help make the world nuclear free and safer place for our future generations. In this regard, the struggle of Indian Left, nuclear scientists against 123 deal despite its limited nationalist scope needs to be supported to keep prospects of helping Delhi´s sign NPT.
The major nuclear powers should instead uphold their pledge to rest of the world by completing decommissioning of their existing nuclear warheads in accordance to decommissioning treaties including Washington and Moscow. Unfortunately, the extension of Missile Defense shield in Europe capable of carrying nuclear warheads shows that America has no regard for global demand for NPT, denuclearization and decommissioning of existing nuclear warheads.
The talk of Indo-US deal as ´strategic American foothold in Asia- the new center of gravity´ fails to highlight historic American reliance on use of force, regime change and creating aid dependent economies to protect its market, energy and political interests. The questions that Islamabad needs to ask are: 1) Will India follow American policy in the region including CARS, Kashmir and now Afghanistan. 2) If yes, how will Islamabad protect its vital interests including blocking of alleged India-Afghan linkup through Northern areas and avoiding arms race in the region. 3) Should Delhi execute Indo-Afghan linkup plan what will be the policy of SCO, GCC, OIC in the region and UN, EU, West and NATO. 4) Role and protection of SCO members in case of NATO´s attack on SCO member and non-NATO ally. 5) What if India allows Europe like Missile Defense System on its soil or allows use of its land and space against regions security and economic interests. 6) Is Indo-US deal a first step in the direction?
It is only matter of time that number of 750 million abandoned common Indians living below two dollar a day will multiply as corporate business grabs a trillion US dollar Indian retail market. The ruling Indian elite will facilitate the rampage by withdrawing constitutional backed rights of public to subsidized food, and securities including health, job and salary structure. The sheer scale of ensuing poverty can wobble any state of its axis. Delhi may not be paying attention to the economic fallout of a military deal but Pakistan following Afghanistan and its own economic challenges cannot afford another failed state on its borders.
Islamabad as welfare state should therefore consolidate its internal strengths including agri-sector to protect public constitutional rights in terms of jobs, education, health care and security. It is only possible if Islamabad is ready to shun foreign aid that comes with strings attached.
Pakistan as opined by PM Gillani and reiterated by the FM during his US visit should fence its border, deploy security forces on its side of Pak-Afghan border and ask Kabul to put in place a credible Afghan security apparatus before blaming others. Next Pakistan can also secure its national interests by linking Kabul´s cooperation to its access to Pak-Afghan trade routes and adherence to international travel practices.The issue of repatriation of 2.5 million Afghan refugees from Pakistan should also be expedited because with pledged 24 billion dollar aid Kabul can easily take care of its 32 million population @ 100 US dollar a month for next five years. Reportedly, an Afghan teacher and a soldier are paid US 50 and 100 dollars per month respectively.
Islamabad should therefore demand withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan (and Iraq) to help restore peace in its neighborhood, region and ME. Similarly, in step with Spain and other European nations Islamabad should also withdraw its support at tripartite level including alleged use of bases by the occupation forces for the safety of its people, end Afghan occupation and restore peace in the region.
Finally, whatever tactical and strategic expectations Delhi has from Indo-US deal it is for sure that the deal introducing new arms race will undermine peace in the region. It will increase poverty in the region by undermining average Indian´s financial interests and constitutional rights. The ongoing evolution of French social welfare state into ´free market economy´ and revival of militarism in Japan costing the country economic slowdown are cases in point. Similarly, Europe´s focus on Mediterranean Union shows continent is preparing to protect its business and political interests in the East. Therefore, NATO´s role in has ended in the continent. It is therefore hoped that global community will support NPT instead of bilateral deals and call for withdrawal of forces from Asia and ME to make this world a safer place. If only it is realized.
Note: The article was also published in Pakistan Observer (www.pakobserver.net) on July 15, 2008.
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