The Nukes Scrutiny?
By the Editor

SPEAKING to global media in Manila, President General Pervez Musharraf has—once again—made it crystal clear that he would never allow foreign inspectors—into the country to examine Pakistan’s nuclear facilities—in any style.

‘That’s tantamount to admitting that we cannot be trusted in our own house’—the President said with dynamism by adding; that the same applies to Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan—who is a national hero in Pakistan.

If one goes pragmatism—inspection of Pakistan’s nuclear facilities is a very sensitive issue with the nation—which has built them solely for self-security.

With this perception—the categorical statement of the President of Pakistan—that no foreign inspection of the nation’s nuclear facilities will be allowed—is the prudent national policy in keeping with the people’s aspirations.

History of the subcontinent bears testimony to the fact—that Pakistan was compelled to build nuclear deterrence in the wake of hostile neighbor—India which had dismembered Pakistan’s eastern limb and posed a perpetual threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It’s a matter of record that Pakistan had gone for nuclear tests in May 1998—in the wake of Indian leaders’ open threats of invasion in pretentious arrogance following detonation of nuclear devices by New Delhi.

It’s, therefore—high time that the world must understand that the nuclear deterrence is sine qua non for its survival as a dignified and self-respecting country in the comity of nations.

Pakistan has—by its peaceful conduct over the past half a century, proven beyond any shadow of doubt that it has no aggressive designs against any country. Its nuclear programme is purely defensive in nature.

However, it’s intriguing that Pakistan’s nuclear programme is kept into spotlight every now and then—exclusively by the Western media as a result of deliberate leaks, which are then focused with malice and prejudice.

As we look at it, it’s being done intentionally with obvious hideous motives since the West is seemingly not ready to tolerate the acquisition of nuclear weapon capability—explicitly by a Muslim country.

There is a widespread apprehension in the country that the West especially the US will target Pakistan’s nuclear programme sooner or later.

It’s, therefore, fitting time that the Government should be ready—to face such a situation with a patriotic approach in deference to the wishes of the people of Pakistan.

President Musharraf’s clear-cut statement on this count is—of-course soul inspiring. We wish the President all the best—for airing to the globe such a heroic avowal not only onto the soils of the Philippines—but even in Indonesian capital Jakarta.● 

 -  Mumtaz Hamid Rao
www.MumtazRao.net