Perspectives
Washington's paranoia over Pakistan's bombs
CALL it prudent or paranoid, the US has its own concerns of others' problems, which are highly discriminatory. At times, those concerns can turn volatile as is evident in US outbursts against Iran's nuclear program, although it looked the other way when Israel built up its undeclared nuclear arsenal long ago.
Yet, the US opposition to Iran acquiring it borders on obsession. So much so that President Bush recently undertook a journey to the Middle East, particularly to drum up support from the Gulf states in the neighbourhood of Iran for a concerted action against her.
His mission remains unfulfilled, as his comprador allies in the region did not apparently oblige hill this time with their traditional obeisance.
Washington's focus is now on Pakistan, where its great anti-terror warrior is comatose. After Benazir Bhutto's mysterious assassination, claimed to be the handiwork of al-Qaeda by the Pakistani establishment, and a fall in the standing of Musharaf himself, in spite of his fresh presidential term as a civilian politician, the Americans are far from being assured about the safely of the country's 50-odd nuclear warheads.
Washington is genuinely frightened at the new wave of suicide bombings within Pakistan, and a countrywide spread of terrorism, suspected to be the result of the fresh alacrity of resurgent al-Qaeda and Talibans in disguise.
The Pakistan government seems to be under a lot of pressure deflecting the various statements and opinions published in the Western media with regard to Pakistan's "strategic assets." The head of the UN Atomic Agency, Mohammad El-Baraidei, also does not hide his anxiety about these monstrous weapons in a country infested with dreaded bands of suicide bombers.
Considering the political instability, which is likely to worsen in Pakistan in the wake of the February 18 election, many, including the Americans, fear that the weapons could fall into the hands of religious extremists who, in fact, rule the roost now. Such a fear seems to have increased especially after the death of Benazir Bhutto. After all, if she could be killed for her liberal views, many think, then why couldn't someone target even Musharaf himself, whom the western press has popularised and glorified as the most liberal human being in Pakistan?
One cannot, however, be oblivious of the two assassination attempts on him by Jaish-e-Mohammad, an outfit whose leadership sits comfortably inside the country and will probably never get caught. In the politico-religious milieu that prevails in Pakistan, after the policy pursued in Pakistan for ages, the diehard religious extremists groups manage to survive in different guises. These facts make Pakistan extremely vulnerable, and its nuclear assets insecure.
The reports as to the likelihood of US military's plan of taking out or securing Pakistan's nuclear weapon abound these days, and also gained some legitimacy. Of course, that is an option only in case of emergency alone. What if something happens to Musharaf or the head of the army, believed to be the custodian of the nuclear weapons and their secrets? Then the US cannot but feel insecure in letting Pakistan retain the control of those weapons.
Yet, any logical mind would raise the question about the possibility of US military finding and getting hold of those weapons. Maybe it will be difficult to locate all weapons, even if the US has some general idea of Pakistan's security establishments.
Since 9/ll, Pakistan has played host to many foreign visitors in the name of war on terror, including various covert and overt foreign agencies, who couldn't have been unaware of the general location of the weapons and their deployment pattern.
Pakistan's Strategic Plan Division has a long and deep interaction with the Pentagon and American think- tanks. So, the possibility of information slipping through these channels can't be ruled out, helping the US in getting hold of the weapons.So far Islamabad has adversely reacted to the leaked-out plan of US taking control of its nuclear weapon and vociferously condemned the idea. The US also does not seem to realise the political cost of such enterprise.
Earlier, when the American plan to carry out attacks against suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban strongholds in tribal areas was made known both public and official reactions were hostile, generating fresh anti-Americanism in Pakistan. Also, the terrorists' activities escalated.
According to government views in Pakistan, any direct action by foreign forces will be highly unpopular and counter-productive. It wouldn't be surprising if the ranks of al-Qaeda and Taliban get further boost from such action. There is also the fear of Musharraf's inherently unstable regime becoming destabilised, meaning that the US would lose the last bastion of "liberalism" in Pakistan. Yet, by all indications, they will be foolhardy if they risk the rash action by opening up another front of conflict.
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