Daily Jang, Pakistan

Western Propaganda Against Pakistani Nuclear Assets

By Malik Altaf Hussain

Translated By Hamad Kiani

December 11, 2007

Pakistan – Daily Jang – ORIGINAL ARTICLE (Urdu)

The December 3 edition of the Daily Jang carried three important news stories.  The first was about the confirmation by U.S. authorities that war games have been conducted at a secret place to secure or capture Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.  The second news story is about Pakistan’s foreign office spokesman who rejected a report in the British newspaper “Guardian” calling it ridiculous.  The Guardian said Pakistan’s nuclear weapons could fall into the wrong hands. The third news story was about the press conference of Benazir Bhutto in Peshawar, in which she said, “the extremists could reach Islamabad to capture Kahuta”.

First and foremost, Pakistan is a free and independent country.  Pakistan has its own defense force with a minimal reliance on foreign military assistance.  In achieving its nuclear capability, Pakistan overcame all obstacles and hardships in its way to achieve this ‘capability and power’.  Its assets are safe like those of any other country because of a comprehensive and organized command and control system.  Therefore, any concern of a second or third country about Pakistan’s nuclear assets is illegitimate and unreasonable.  After looking at the policies of imperialist powers, the risk is that a conspiracy and planned propaganda are being launched against Pakistan’s nuclear assets to make an excuse for action later on.

We think publishing baseless stories in Western newspapers against Pakistan’s atomic assets and the futile preparations by the U.S. military are a failed attempt to achieve these aggressive designs.  The U.S. acknowledges Pakistan but does not like that it is an Islamic nation.  The U.S. appreciates Pakistan’s military and promises to meet its defense needs but wants to fulfill its own agenda first.  The military assistance given to Pakistan is only to maintain it, not for moving ahead.  Rather it (the U.S.) wants to keep Pakistan dependent on U.S. military assistance and cooperation so that if Pakistan advances on any front without seeking U.S. permission, the U.S. can stop its assistance and retreat, as happened during the wars of ‘65, ‘71 and Kargil.  Pakistan’s nuclear capability protects its strategic policy and geographical freedom that has weakened U.S. designs, and given a severe blow to the self-acclaimed dictatorial powers of the U.S.  Americans are concerned about it.  That Pakistan is an atomic power now, with an effective and active role in its neighborhood and region, is disliked by the U.S.

As far as the U.K. is concerned, the mindset and posture of the English is more aggressive and authoritative.  It is one thing that the sun has set on their whole world after 200 years of rule and now the empire has shrunk to a small island.  But their blue eyes are still set on countries along the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean that are rich with oil and other resources and where once Lawrence of Arabia and the Viceroys looted the Muslims.  The English left and Muslims became free and strong.  Today, they have resources and power to defend themselves.  It is quite another thing that our rulers could not become free and honorable while Muslim Ummah did.  It is an historic tragedy that after leaving, the English stabbed the chest of Arabs with the dagger of Israel and put the jugular vein of Pakistan (Kashmir) under the sword of India, so that Muslims now live in risk and agony.  The British never liked the idea of a Muslim country’s acquiring ‘nuclear capabilities’.  Because the English know that Muslims will be successful in securing their rights and fair share even if only a single Muslim country becomes an atomic power. That is the reason why the West has always disliked the atomic capability of Pakistan.

Now, regarding Benazir Bhutto’s statement “extremists will reach Islamabad to occupy Kahuta”.  It is not only absurd but also an insult to the knowledge, position and analysis of a leader who was twice prime minister.  Capturing Kahuta is not tantamount to capturing nuclear assets, and reaching Islamabad in no way means reaching Kahuta. Much more important is to know who is reaching Islamabad.  All candidates who want to reach Islamabad want to do so via the electoral process.  All political forces including liberal, secular, democratic and Islamic will be eligible for power in Islamabad after participating in the election process and achieving the required number of votes.  So, it is the right of all leaders or political or Islamic parties to form a majority government.  Because it will be a decision of the people, it should be given legal protection.  Implementing it will be the duty of the incumbent government.  All politicians will have to respect the decision legally and formally.

We don’t know whom is the target of Ms. Bhutto’s statement.  Is she saying someone from Swat or Waziristan will come with Kalashnikovs and occupy first Islamabad and then Kahuta?  But we are sure that Ms. Benazir is wise and well informed despite this flimsy analysis.  Her point could concern Islamic parties who are active in Pakistani politics.  However, if Benazir is saying this, it would be a very big mistake because it is not possible to stop these Islamic parties from contesting elections and keeping them out of politics.  Besides, the role of Islamic parties has been appreciable ranging from the two-nation theory to achieving and maintaining nuclear capabilities.

We would also like to discuss Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who founded Pakistan’s nuclear program.  His work will always be remembered as a big accomplishment.  It is also well to remember that the Islamic parties are the biggest obstacle to any external pressure and bargaining about Pakistan’s atomic program.  It has been their biggest demand to release Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan and to maintain the nuclear capacity.  Whereas Ms. Benazir Bhutto is on record suggesting Dr. Qadeer be handed over to foreign agencies. 

The important thing is the similarity in news and target in all three stories.  It seems that some politicians have been brought in to the election campaign to fan the uncertainty and disinformation spread by the U.S. and U.K. about Pakistan’s nuclear assets so that  imperialist powers can take the opportunity to fulfill their aggressive designs.