Shame on you. This is not expected from an IFS officer of the old school.
Not surprisingly, your conclusions are erroneous as well. Enough nonsense has been written about Iran's 'eastern flank'. Take a look at the map and you will see what really constitutes the eastern flank of Iran.
For General Musharaff or any other Pakistani to try and 'secure the Eastern flank of Iran' is to commit political hara kiri. He is not as big a fool as you appear to be.
RE:The Saudis and Pakistan
by arup ghosh on Sep 20, 2007 03:28 PM Permalink
I think Mr Bhadrakumar is right. I would however not believe that Pakistan would be in a position to attack iran under any circumstances. Because if that is the case then Iran would fuel the Shia-Sunni fight and that would result in a civil war in pakistan which musharraf doe snot want in any circumstance. He has enough on his plate. What Musharaff might try is that he might push the militants towards Iran and try to get them there as that would loosen up the pressure that is put on him by US. Musharaff also knows that his existence and support from US will be there till there is a need for him. What probably will happen is that Musharaff might try to prolong the current process to extend his term as president in pakistan
RE:The Saudis and Pakistan
by DM on Sep 20, 2007 03:25 PM Permalink
Mr. Rao you need to learn some etiquettes. How can you just abuse someone and that too for no reason. I don't think the article would have offended you so much unless you are an Iranian or Saudi.
Before you comment on Mr Bhadrakumar's English please check yours. Lynchpin and Linchpin are both acceptable and check any dictionary you want to.
RE:The Saudis and Pakistan
by KrishnaPrasad Bhat on Sep 27, 2007 02:41 PM Permalink
Rao, Mr. Bhadrakumar was a Indian ambassador to Turkey and also to some Central asian country. He has tremendous knowledge on Foreign affairs than somebody like you. Be responsible when you want to abuse somebody. Very bad of you.
RE:The Saudis and Pakistan
by Hemanth Pallavajula on Sep 20, 2007 05:40 PM Permalink
Claps Claps Claps....for DM
Rao, Go through the depth of thought process put in by Sri Bhadrakumar. I will say Exemplary. And lets respect that. Until reading this article, I only thought, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have jointly took the decision to deport Mr.Sharif back to SA.
RE:The Saudis and Pakistan
by Ashok Rao on Sep 21, 2007 07:18 PM Permalink
DM and Hemanth P:
Kindly go though the map available at this URL: http://maps.google.com/maps?tab=wl
and you will see that over 50% of the eastern flank of Iran is Afghanistan.
On the Pakistan side, you will also observe that the eastern flank includes the NWFP and the Baluchistan area, where the Pakistani military has been forced to a grinding halt.
Now tell me, even if you are not a military expert: What do you think are the chances of Pakistan being able to do anything on the eastern flank of Iran? Are the chances greater than zero, and if so, why?
Will they provide air bases for US aircraft? the US doesn't need those, they already have five carrier battle groups in the Gulf.
One wold expect a Pakistan expert like Bhadrakumar to do at least this much basic research before shooting off an essay. But alas.....
