Dear Mr. Prime Minister
By giving a “wink and a nod” and actively assisting an Israeli State sponsored terrorist operation against Pakistan’s Kahuta Nuclear facility a first in South Asia the Indian govt. has endangered the life of every in habitant of the Indo Pakistan subcontinent how dumb can one get?
- By this action your govt has shown every rebellious sub-national group in India that Nuclear plants or reactors and Bharat has seven of them and all very vulnerable represent the greatest concentration of high value (at least three/four billion dollars each) in a small volume. It does not need much imagination and some of these sub-national groups are known for their resourcefulness and daring to realised that Nuclear plants are alluring targets for coercive negotiation or diplomacy as these can be shut down or rendered useless by the explosion (or threat of explosion) of a few pounds of TNT or one smart rocket fired by a disgruntled Indian Air force pilot.
- By flirting with the Israelis and assisting them in a state sponsored terrorist operation against Pakistan’s Kahuta Nuclear facility some under heads in your govt have shown contempt for the hundreds of thousands hard working Indians earning billions of dollars in the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia. Don’t they realised who will be the first victim of any confrontation between India and Pakistan or any “affair” between New Delhi and Tel Aviv?
- A preemptive strike or state sponsored terrorist operation against Pakistan’s Kahuta plant could have been justified in the 70’s as it could put an end to Pakistan’s Nuclear ambitions But in 1991 there is no advantage to India as Pakistan would have Survived an attack with a number of operational nuclear devices stored all over the Middle East from the periphery of the Red Sea to the mountains of Kashmir However if the aborted Israeli terrorist aid had succeeded Prime Minister Shamir’s party would have sailed to a comfortable victory in the coming Israeli elections.
- It seems that history is being repeated in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent where the uniform is gradually but surely replacing the civvies and you Mr. Prime Minister may have the distinction of being the last civilian ruler of India. It is obvious that while the political leadership was busy with the recent May/June general elections India’s uniformed elite (known for its apelike copy of every Colonial tradition/mentality from the toothbrush moustache to the swagger stick to shouts of Koi Hai in their Mess) gave a “wink and a nod” to Israel which has had Pakistan’s Kahuta facility in its gun sights for many years.
- I have the feeling that the presence of a company strong force of Israeli commandos masquerading as tourists in strife tom Srinagar was as much a surprise for you as it was for the rest of the world as even Indian tourists have not been seen in that city for the last two years. As the whole operation reeks of stupidity it could not be the handiwork of India’s crafty civilian Brahmin ruling elite which is known for its shrewdness its looks more like a neophyte attempt by a coterie of uniformed Myrmidons. The civilian elite would never have sanctioned at this point in time when India is at war with itself facing a thousand rebellions a two nation covert operation against Pakistan’s Kahuta nuclear facility success of which depended on secrecy. Sure enough even the redoubtable Israelis and they should be admired for their bravery devotion and organisation were ambushed on June 27 by a group of teenaged Kashmiri partisans whose curiosity had been aroused by a tip from a Sikh pilot who had reported unusual activity in an Indian Airbase.
- Before we get into a new cycle of threat and counter-threat and then war in South Asia I believe Sir that it would be very statesmanlike on your part if you were to calm Pakistani anger and apprehensions. You could easily do that with a credible explanation that the Israeli act of state terror was a rogue operation which failed and that India will adhere to the 1988 Treaty with Pakistan which prohibits attacks on nuclear facilities. In the meantime you could earn credibility with the oppressed minorities in Punjab and Kashmir by announcing a unilateral ceasefire and withdrawal of Indian Occupation forces last the people decide to act a la Israel. Perhaps a couple of Court Martials of the guilty ones responsible for arranging the aborted Israeli raid from Indian controlled territory may prolong civilian rule in New Delhi as the Rawalpindi Conspiracy trials did in 1951 in Pakistan. At least they will show who is boss.
Ahmed Sheikh President Kashmir Association of North America
Article extracted from this publication >> July 26, 1991
