Mr Bhadrakumar's article is very informative and intelligent and speaks of the analysis that he has put in. I would like to add another factor to this which may not have been clear at the time he might be drafting this article. Putin is to visit Iran in the coming days inspite of the reported threat to his life. It is known that Russia is helping Iran in its cvilian Nuclear Energy needs. Recently concluded visit by Rice to Russia is reported to have ended in a failure. Now in International Politics, what is said and reported is not necessarily what is the truth and that discussed. Putin has his own agenda given to him in goodwill by the US, remember his visit to Bush's Ranch. This visit in all probability carries with it the ratifying agenda i.e. to verify the proofs that Rice might have submitted to Putin to show the real nature of advance that US considers Iran has made and which justifies the changed French tone. Excpect the unexpected after Putin' svisit is all that we can say and keep our fingers crossed.
Too bad Pak's previous Military dictator, General Zia Ul-Haq did not live to enjoy his retirement, otherwise he'd be egging Mush along in his quest for political dictatorship, in the guise of furthering democracy. Who knows, like that other flaky dictator, Kim Ill Jong II, Mush too may stop flying - can't be too careful - he migh just have the same type of acccident like his old buddy Zia.
This tan fellow thinks that by shouting in all caps he can make his moronic statements have some meaning! He is too offensive and doesnt make any sense. What a shame to be so idiotic and warped in his own senseless views!
Pray for oil to dry up fast or alternate source of energy is found to eliminate the supremacy of oil which is the root cause so many state sponsored terrorism all over the world..be it Saudis or US agression to grasp rich oil fields..The world was definitely more peaceful when the issue of energy was not a prime concern.. water & energy sources will be a great concern for humnanity for a long time to come unless the developed nations come together to work in a more responsible way to conserve the natural resources, alleviate the suffering of countless millions instead of supplying arms to failing states like Pakistan, Sudan, N Korea etc...religion is a real curse on the humanity..animals will have the last laugh as they have no religion to abide by and live by natural ways..Man with all his powers and sanity for independent thinking has created so many restrictions in the name of religion and living like an animal in an unnatural way..
Musharraf always pulls a pigeon out of his hat whenever people want to write him off. The Sharif manuevre was brilliant - in five years , musharraf would be leading a retired life after handing over power to another general of his liking with probably Benazir as the showcase for democracy... and in all good traditions of south asian democracy , Mohtarma would be grooming one of her children into politics and establishing good relationship with generals and upcoming officers. Nawaz will come back wizened, but without much power , though its expected that 3-4 more hair transplants will make him look a lot younger.
It appears that the perceived Iranian aggression against Pakistan is being fought through Osama, if we take notice of Osama's latest tape for attacking Pak (read Musharraf). But Iran would not be that foolish to support Osama or seen to be supporting as that gives the US enough of credence to attack Iran directly.
But one thing seems certain in the near future. Neither Saudi Arabia nor Pakistan will find it easy to retain their sovereignity. Saudi regime is surviving against severe internal revolt only because of the US and Western world support and it will not continue if Osama can hold his fort for some more time. Americans are preparing for that eventuality. Americans also don't want Pak to remain the way it is. Once its alliance with India is finalised it will allow India to take control of Punjab and SInd areas of Pak and leave Balochistan to declare independence. Pasthunstan anyway was never really administered by any Pak administration. That is the only way the US will leave a stronger India to control those pathan and tribal areas to protect American interests. Anyway, Partition seems to have outlived its utility. US wants a stronger India to act as a counter weight to China so that US and the western world can sleep in peace. Global politics are indeed amazing!
RE:PARTITION SEEMS OUTLIVED ITS UTILITY TO THE WESTERN WORLD!
by Anurag Shrivastava on Sep 22, 2007 02:21 PM Permalink
do some studies - Iranians are shias and will never align with Al Qaeda which is Sunni - with or without US threats.
The Saudi Royal family is vey rich and can buy the best possible security for itself and again it does not really need US help for internal security - however it will need US to protect itself from Iran or a possible dictator like Saddam in the nieghbourhood.
Partition is good for India - we can focus on Ram and Pakistan can focus on Islam. Its good to be separate and friendly.
Dear Shri Bhadrakumar, Thanks for quite an analytical article a kind of which is hard to come by in these sensation seeking trash journalism.
But there is one point, I may seek an elaboration or clarification with one of your conclusions. To my knowledge, Pakistan always wanted a friendly Iran for strategic reasons. It has two countries on its western borders; Afghanistan and Iran. Afghanistan is a seasonal friend or foe depending on the regime of the day. That's why Pakistan nurtured Taliban till it was overthrown mercilessly by the US. The current regime in Afghanistan is anti-pak and pro-India. Pakistan can never take on two countries simultanwously in case of a war; India on the eatern front and an Afghanistan or an Iran on its western frontier. In 65 and 71 wars it got an assurance from Iran that Pakistan has nothing to fear about Iran and on the contrary Iran assured Pak that Iran would take care of Afghanistan if Afgans misbehave at a time of a war with India. Pakistan desperately needs Iran's support AT ALL TIMES. Only a traitor ruler of Pak will antagonise Iran and lose sovereignity from attacks on both flanks. Iran has a natural interest in a friendly Pak. Balochistan is part in Pak and part in Iran. Any Balochi indedendence movement will find its echoes in Iran as well and Iran is not prepared to lose part of its Balochi province. That is why Iran always was unhappy with Indian meddling in Balochistan.
For this support, Iran is getting Nuke tech from Pak.
