Repercussions of 9/11

The events marking the 9/11 anniversary this year have a special significance for Afghanistan, India and the United States for several reasons. Some of the major are presented to understand the objectives of the United States.

First, it was after this fateful day eight years ago that the Pakistani military decided to carry out a massive operation against the Taliban in Swat. The notorious terrorists were either captured or killed and now the military is ready to fight Al-Qaeda in Waziristan as well.

Internal Threats to Pakistan,
This big advancement outlines the reality of the internal threats to Pakistan as a consequence of the US attack on Afghanistan. Second, the Pakistani Government, the opposition, the military and the media have finally agreed on the fact that this is Pakistan's war not America's and that this war has become compulsory to mitigate the possible threats to the country even though it might not guarantee success if used in isolation.

Third, the Pakistani military has accepted this public opinion that India is no longer Pakistan's enemy even if it remains a permanent threat to Pakistan's security. Thus, it is necessary to continue the peace process that was started by Nawaz Sharif and was carried forward by former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

The fourth reason is that the Obama administration has identified the need to look for a way to end the conflict that is not only related to actors in Afghanistan but also seeks to bring an end to hostilities between Pakistan and India, and Pakistan and Afghanistan.

This supports Pakistan's viewpoint that for durable peace and stability in Afghanistan, it is necessary for Afghanistan to at least maintain friendly ties with Pakistan politically or else she should be willing to fully cooperate with Pakistan.

New Political Strategy
The fifth reason is that the Americans have finally reached this conclusion that the new political strategy to expand the scope of legitimacy in Kabul is as important as the military operation to stop the resistance.

To prove this contest right, the strategy to make use of this year's presidential elections was not ignored as evident from accusations of massive vote rigging and fraud on the Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This will make it even harder to achieve stability in Afghanistan. The United States will become more dependent on Pakistan to draw the Taliban's attention toward devising a feasible formula to end the conflict. This would be a more realistic way forward for Afghanistan as compared to the military strategy, which was dependent solely on Karzai.

Support for Afghan War
The sixth reason is that the support for Afghan War amongst the American public is weakening. Like the European nations, majority of Americans are demanding the withdrawal of their soldiers. The Obama administration is looking for ways to achieve several victories in Afghanistan by next year's Congressional elections. This mission could not be achieved without a stable Pakistan and full support for her strategic interests as Pakistan cannot separate her Jihadi elements to be used against India from Al-Qaeda or the Taliban.

Pakistan had to pay a huge price in the form of Pakistani Taliban for this unfinished business. Likewise, the United States cannot assert this viewpoint that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda are one and they pose a real threat to it. The Pakistani Taliban and other jihadi groups in the country are Pakistan's problem; they have nothing to do with America.

In fact, Pakistan and America would only need to work hand in hand against the Taliban until they break the ties between Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. To separate the Taliban from Al-Qaeda, the Taliban must be given a part in the government in the future. This is the ultimate solution to the Afghan problem.

Attaining Regional Peace
The seventh reason is that India is being asked to play an important role in attaining regional peace. India's secret war against Pakistan in Afghanistan and Balochistan, which was started to bring a halt to Pakistani intrusion in Kashmir, is closing its end. So the sooner India resumes the unconditional dialogues with Pakistan, the better it is.

This should not be a problem for the Congress-led UPA Indian Government as it has the capability to look into the future and strengthen Pakistan's hands in her fight against extremism both at home and abroad.

Spirits of 9/11
If 9/11 does not remain an issue for anybody, the next 12 months would be extremely crucial. Each and every party would definitely have to make compromises. The United States would have to create circumstances that bring the Taliban's representation back to Kabul. Pakistan would have to realize that some of its assets have become her liability, which needs to be taken care of.

India would have to realize that you reap what you sow and that the plans with a zero sum game are no longer viable. Now she needs to solve her issues with Pakistan through the give and take principle. Otherwise the spirits of 9/11, which have not been dead for very long, would come alive again to spread chaos in the region.

Fresh and Better Understanding
Former Pakistani President Musharraf's decision to become George W. Bush's right hand was mostly correct. However, both of them did not trust each other and kept playing games, which led to destruction. That is the reason the new Governments of the US and Pakistan must unite and try to gain a fresh and better understanding of the ground facts.

The sooner Karzai's Afghanistan and Manmohan Singh's India become part of this new arrangement, the better it is.

Rajasthan Recovers Explosive Devices and Weapons

Rajasthan's border with Pakistan is never trouble free. At times, forged banknotes are found, and at other times, terrorists are reported to have sneaked into India. Visitors on friendly trips often smuggle huge stocks of counterfeit notes and heroin. Now traffickers living in India have joined the conspiracy to bring weapons and explosives from Pakistan in order to wreak havoc in India. The police seized such a stock, smuggled from Pakistan, on 8 September.

Confirmed Intelligence Reports
On 8 September, this haul at Marundi Village, about 25 km from Barmer, was to have been sent to the terrorist outfit of Punjab, the Babbar Khalsa. Smuggler Lumia alias Salha Khan, a resident of the area under the Beenjrad Police Station and his associates were involved in it. On the basis of confirmed intelligence reports of weapons being smuggled across the border, a contingent of Barmer police combed the area for eight hours. They came across a land on the road to the left of the Marundhi-Danta bridge, which was covered with fresh mud.

After digging about one foot, they found a cement sack with the words "rock strong" inscribed on it. Eight brown packets were placed under it. These contained weapons and explosives. From these packets the police recovered eight foreign pistols, 26 magazines, eight packets of 420 cartridges of 7.62 caliber, two packets containing 6.86 kg of explosives (a group of experts from Jaipur found them to be RDX after proper examination), two bundles of safety fuse wires, measuring 50 and 90 feet in length, four of them with batteries and two detonators. The police informed journalists after 24 hours. When asked about local connection and the route used for smuggling the weapons, the police said that these would be clear only after investigations. Police denied that any arrests had been made in this connection. But according to reliable sources, several people have been taken into police custody for interrogation.

Stock of RDX and Weapons
The police and the intelligence services have no clue of how these materials reached a place almost 100 km away from the international border or how they were kept hidden. Had this stock of RDX and weapons been in possession of terrorists they would have created havoc. Timer devices were also seized along with weapons and explosives. Perhaps, this is the first instance of its kind outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to experts, these devices are highly sophisticated. Their special feature is that they can be effective even 184 days, four hours and 20 minutes after they have been set. The technology of the programming of the explosives was written on slips of paper stuck on them. The police have lodged several cases against Lunia and others at the Barmer Police headquarters under various sections. The Jasai Ordnance Depot is just a little far from the site in Marundi village from where the explosives were recovered. On the other side lies the railway track along which the Thar Express passes.

Anti-National Incidents
Therefore, it is being suspected whether traffickers had intended to give the ammunition to the Punjab terrorists or the purpose was to spread panic in Barmer. On one hand, the efforts are being made to get the Thar Express to stop at Barmer, on the other, anti-national incidents are occurring frequently there.

Under these circumstances, if the Thar Express halts at Barmer it will become a new destination for smugglers and terrorists. They will be able to fulfill their masters' ambitions far more effectively from here.

UN Security Council Adopts Nuclear Non-Proliferation Resolution

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) are once again in focus. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted a resolution asking all non-NPT states to join the treaty at a summit chaired by US President Barack Obama.
The 15-member council, while urging “other states” outside the NPT to join the controversial treaty as “non-nuclear states” to help rid the world of atom bombs, also urged all countries to sign and ratify the CTBT and refrain from conducting atomic tests. India has not signed the CTBT yet.
The Security Council has adopted a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Resolution. Through this resolution, the Security Council has called upon all nations to sign the NPT. The countries that have not so far signed it have been asked to do so. Under this treaty a ban has been imposed on making nuclear bomb in the future.
India’s Stance
India has decided to affix its signature on the treaty. India has refused to abide by the Security Council resolution asking all non-NPT nations to sign the pact, saying it cannot accept the “externally prescribed norms or standards” on issues that are contrary to its national interests or infringe on its sovereignty. India said it could not join the NPT as a non-weapon country even as it reiterated its commitment to no testing and no-first-use besides non-discriminatory universal non-proliferation.
The Indian Air Force chief recently expressed apprehension of a possibility of a nuclear attack on India. In the past also India was asked to sign the NPT, but it declined to do so pleading that unless and until nuclear-weapon nations destroy their nuclear arms, the treaty would be useless. Now, India has yet again refused to sign the NPT. At that time India stated that some other nations are in possession of nuclear weapons, hence it will need to make its own nuclear weapons for the sake of self-defense because in view of the need of self-defense it is not advisable to sign the NPT.
Now, India, once again declining to be a signatory to the treaty, vehemently opposed the UN security calls. It pleaded: "We cannot implement the regulations thrust upon other nations, for these impinge upon the sovereignty and national interests." It will not be in the country's interests to accept such decisions.
India has already taken a categorical stand not to make first use of the nuclear weapons to which it is completely committed. India's permanent representative at the United Nations, Hardip Singh Puri, has in a communication to Susan Rice of the Security Council raised questions on its role in the implementation of international treaties.
Amendment to NPT Treaty
Simultaneously, eight nations of the world, including India, have demanded an amendment in the NPT treaty. The Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution on nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. The resolution passed by 15-member SC that the remaining nations should sign the NPT. The resolution adopted under the leadership of the United States, China, and Russia also has affirmed it. The United Nations has decided to hold its session in 2010 also.
Many nations, including India have not signed the NPT. The plea put forward by them is that developed nations have built their nuclear weapon reserves and the NPT is being thrust upon other nations, which is absolutely unjustified. The question arises whether countries in possession of nuclear weapons will not browbeat countries that do not have such weapons. For instance, Pakistani rulers in the past have been holding out, lamenting nuclear attacks on India.
Obama’s Indication
President Obama first signalled his dedication to the cause of the NPT at Prague in April this year. While stressing non-proliferation, and indicating his preference for reducing the US stockpile of nuclear weapons, the US leader revealingly also said, "Make no mistake: As long as these weapons exist, the United States will maintain a safe, secure and effective arsenal to deter any adversary, and guarantee that defence to our allies." This underlines that the US proposes one set of standards for itself, and another for India. This country’s long-held position has been that it is in favor of comprehensive nuclear disarmament, and that non-proliferation is not a substitute for this. President Obama is yet to offer disarmament as an attainable goal.
Even now, India has voiced the apprehension that it is faced with a threat from Pakistani terrorists that intend to carry out a nuclear offensive against India because it is apprehended that some of the nuclear weapons of Pakistan have found their way to Al-Qa'ida and other groups. The United States had stated that Pakistani terrorists pose a big threat to India.
Even as the United Nations desires to make the world free of nuclear weapons as per the Secretary General, it is high time to move forward. India has declined to sign the NPT, saying that it will not do so until nuclear weapon nations destroy their nuclear weapon reserves. The Indian stand is fully justified.

Blackwater and Pakistan

There has been an enormous increase in the hatred and doubts against the United States all over Pakistan. The United States and Pakistan both are cognizant of this fact; however, no one is admitting this explicitly. The wave of infuriation and annoyance has mounted among the common people since the reports about expansion of the US Embassy in Islamabad and the activities of the US company, Blackwater are coming to the fore. We have tried to find out the facts in this regard. What this Blackwater organization is? In addition, what are its activities?

About the Organization
In 1588, a group of merchants from London submitted an application to the Queen Elizabeth. It was requested in the application that these merchants should be granted permission for trading down to the shores of subcontinent. It was the beginning of the East India Company. Initially, this company traded cotton, silk, tea, and cocaine through Indian subcontinent.

However, later, it started the dirty business and politics of violating and usurping the thoughts, ideologies, and rights of people. In the wake of this trade, the East India Company laid the foundation of the British rule in the subcontinent in 1757. This oppressive occupation of subcontinent by the British throne spanned more than 100 years and in 1857, with a freedom movement started by some honor-conscious Muslims and Hindus, it eventually ended in 1947.

The Mind Behind Blackwater
The United Kingdom also defeated its German and Portuguese opponents in many battlefields for colonizing the subcontinent. Under the guise of traders, the UK secret agents hatched their schemes and gradually occupied the resources and the throne of India. "Al Clark" was an expert trainer of the US Navy. He was fed up with his job in the US Navy. The reason for his disgust was that the US Navy did not have its own firing range and they had to use the US Army's range, for which they often had to go through long and cumbersome procedures. He started thinking that alas, if he had had his own firing range in which he, as per his own free will and agreements, could train the security companies and private people. However, "Erik D. Prince", born with a golden spoon in his mouth, worked as a fire fighter; served as a trainee in the office of President Bush, Senior, in the White House. He joined the US Navy after completing his graduation in 1992 and served in Haiti and Bosnia. He started dreaming of being wealthy and opening his own training school. One day Prince got up, went straight to Clark and said: "I will buy the land and I will provide the funds, you just start preparing to establish the training center". He went to his mother and informed her about his plans. She sold her husband's famous company "prince corporation" for $1.3 billion and gave all money to Prince. Prince bought 6,000 acres of land, adjacent to the seashore in North Carolina State. He went to Clark and told him that he had purchased the land, so let us get on with our work. The both quickly completed their homework and founded the most notorious company of the world, "Blackwater".

Main Objective
The main objective of this company was to provide war and every type of armor trainings and private security services to people. In a short span of one year, the Blackwater became a source of attraction for the retired US Army personnel, absconder soldiers, and common youngsters. However, Prince and Clark focused mainly on their agreements with the US Administration and the US Army, in which they succeeded to a greater extent. Then, with the support of arms manufacturing companies, they provided such latest weapons and war technology in their trainer center, which were not available even to the US Army. As a result, the US Army and other security departments started sending their special groups to the Blackwater for training. After a short period of time, the governments of some other countries also started sending their personnel to the Blackwater for training. Now this Blackwater company trains 40,000 persons annually, which includes training of using dagger to flying fighter and drone planes.

The "Blackwater" is the second name of death and terror in the world of chivalry. Its literal meaning is "Kala Paani" (Black Water). The Blackwater has no enemy of its own against which it wants to fight; however, whoever is the enemy of its customer is its (Blackwater's) enemy. The Blackwater receives dollars, for which it can do anything. With the passage of time, the Blackwater has gained so much importance that the entire Jewish lobby has stood up behind it. Moreover, the situation has come to the point that even the US Army has become dependent on it as well.

In 1998, the US intelligence agency, the CIA, suddenly introduced former US President George W. Bush to the public for the election campaign. It was the moment Prince was waiting for. He had established links inside the CIA; therefore, he immediately joined the Republican Party's election campaign and issued a $2 million check to the party.

Post 9/11 Incidence
The incidence of 9/11 occurred right after eight months of Bush's oath-taking, following which, the US forces -- as per the CIA's pre-planning -- came out of the United States and turned Afghanistan -- the world's weakest country -- into ruins. During the very first year of the war, the Taliban sent as many coffins of the US troops to the United States that the US Administration, people, and think tanks were compelled to think that they had committed a mistake. The anti-Bush and anti-war statements by the families of the deceased Army personnel started becoming a headache for the US departments; and it was the moment Blackwater was waiting for; therefore, the Blackwater sympathizers -- sitting in the US Administration -- put the option of the Blackwater in front of former President Bush. Prince had a secret meeting with Bush toward the end of 2002, and convinced him in the very first meeting. Prince said: "We will send our forces there; will provide security to diplomats and contractors, and will also participate in the operation against the Taliban". Few days after this meeting, an agreement worth billions of dollars was signed between the US Administration and Blackwater; and a large number of the Blackwater trained personnel arrived in Afghanistan under the guise of the US Army.

When the Pakistani Taliban started returning from Afghanistan then, hundreds of Afghani Taliban also came along with them. Following those Taliban, the US troops came to the borders and at times insides the Pakistani territory. When the Pakistani Taliban started mustering up strength, the United States said that the Pakistani forces were not trained enough and they will provide training to them.

Now, it has also come to the fore that the drones are also being administered by the Blackwater personnel. The Pakistani forces share information with the US company, Blackwater and they act accordingly. They Blackwater arrived in Iraq following the US troops when the United States alleged Iraq for developing and possessing the weapons of mass destruction and invaded it in 2003. The atrocious personnel of the Blackwater murdered 17 innocent Iraqis on 16 September 2007. In Iraq, the Shiite-Sunni clashes; foundation of Kurdistan and the Kurd party, and then provision of weapons and training to that party, are the feats of the Blackwater, which the US Congress has also admitted. Out of total 987 security agreements across the world, 788 are with the Blackwater, which is a testimony to the fact that it has become a strong weapon for the US Administration and CIA. The Blackwater came into being in 1997 in the United States and it was later expanded and renamed as Blackwater Worldwide in 2007. Iraq was also included in its expanded circle. The United States showed its skills in the occupation of Iraq with the help of this company.

Renaming Blackwater
They renamed Blackwater to "Xe Services" with an announcement in 2009 to achieve new targets and objectives. Now this company will work in all those countries of the region, which are standing against the so-called US hegemony, and are not willing to sell their resources and integrity. The objectives, such as fight against terrorism, were mandated under this company; however, now it has been organized for target killing. It is imperative to remind that the assistance was taken from Blackwater to end the leadership of Al-Qa'ida. This company has been involved in the brutal target killing in Iraq because of which the Iraqi Government and people are trying to kick this company out of the country. They have also refused to extend its agreement. Therefore, the United States is saying that the Xe Services will leave Iraq in 2009.

The prime objective of this company is to provide human resource to the military and law enforcement departments and agencies. However, the question arises that why would Pakistan need the support of the Xe Services? Or the United States has imposed this decision on Pakistan to achieve its targets by prolonging its presence in the region, so that, on one hand, it can keep an eye on China; and on the other, use the resources of Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Baluchistan]; or otherwise, is it a real purpose of this company to provide military training and support to Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. However, if latter is the case, then why the Pakistani Government is continuously denying this factor?

The reports are coming to the fore that the Blackwater armed personnel have entered in different sectors of Islamabad. They can indulge into terror activities in Pakistan anytime. In this context, threats to the life of Dr Abdul Qadir Khan are a cause of anxiety for the government. The government does not have answer to many questions, such as the presence of the Blackwater in Pakistan. The United States is hatching designs against Pakistan in collaboration with India. The Blackwater personnel can target anyone; however, our leaders do not care for the country and their own reputation as well. The entire nation has to unite for the stability of the country by unearthing the US atrocities.

There are reports that more than 200 Blackwater personnel have been deployed in Pakistan. However, the official sources are rebutting these reports. The proofs of the presence of the Blackwater personnel in Islamabad and Peshawar have come to the fore few days ago. According to the sources, the Blackwater has renamed Xe Services and its personnel do not come to Pakistan on a direct visa, but through the US Embassies in the European countries. The US Embassy in Pakistan is not providing any information in this regard. However, the Pakistani Foreign Office has denied these reports. There are reports about the controversial US company, Blackwater working on the agenda of Muslims' genocide.

Everyone in Pakistan is showing doubts and distrust. The reports of killings of Muslims in Iraq by this company are talk of the town. According to the report, the US secret organization Blackwater, by increasing its activities, has started contacting defunct organizations in Pakistan. It has also established it own secret telephone exchange system. The purpose of contacting these defunct organizations is target killing and abduction of key figures in the capital and other areas of the country. Moreover, to trap these defunct organizations, they are using the religious get up. The Blackwater has also started providing funds and weapons to its personnel for their activities. It is also hiring the Pakistani youngsters on $1,516 per month. This organization is operates on the pattern of the East India Company. The horrible image coming to the fore from the expected activities of the Blackwater is that they will have the permit to kill the Pakistanis under an anonymous agreement, and no Pakistani department will have the authority to investigate the Blackwater on these killings. This is the moment to ponder for sake of Pakistan's sovereignty that the United States has indicated to plan its activities in Pakistan on long-term basis. The expansion of the US Embassy; renting bungalows in the posh areas of Islamabad and Peshawar; and the statement by the US Embassy's spokesperson that the embassy and the consulates will also be expanded, are indicators to point where the United States, with its activities, will paralyze the government to the extent that it will become fully subservient and dependent on it.

Currently, the feelings of doubt and distrust are arousing in everyone's mind in the entire country. Our people form their opinions about anything very quickly, and now they believe that the Blackwater is the initial image of the US invasion of our country; and as a case, they use the example of Iraq. In any case, only the government can clarify the situation that what are the reasons and objectives of the Blackwater's personnel coming to Pakistan? And what will be its scope of activities?

Erik Prince is the founder of the Blackwater. A petition was filed in a Virginia court in the United States in August that Erik Prince had become active to implement his agenda of Muslims' genocide. He was involved in massive killings of Muslims in Iraq. For this purpose, he got his like-minded officers deployed in Iraq, so that the Muslims' genocide could be carried out. Instead, he titled himself as a crusader, whose objective is to spread Christianity and fade away the name of Islam. The writer of a book published on the Blackwater says that those who are administering the Blackwater are following pure crusades agenda. They belong to the right wing of Catholic group and they take advice from the Church and priests in this regard. The writer further says that the Blackwater is a conspiracy of Jews and Christians whose purpose is to spread Christianity and implement the new world order. The book also mentions that 9/11 was a pre-planned scheme of Jews and the United States. Moreover, using this excuse of terrorism, the entire world was pushed into the fire of war and the dream of new world order was realized. Under the same new world order, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had ordered to build new Jews' settlements along the western strip of Gaza. Moreover, under the same world order, threats are being given to Iran for enrichment of uranium and probably under the same world order, the Blackwater has arrived in our country so that Pakistan, which is the only nuclear power in the entire Islamic world could be rendered subservient. Our leaders as usual are denying such reports; whereas, the US Embassy is being expanded and the US officials are freely roaming around with weapons and dollars in their pockets.

Expansion of US Embassy
The US officials are saying that after the expansion of the US Embassy in Pakistan, the number of the US staff and troops will be doubled. Moreover, the staff working in the embassy will be tripled and the US troops will continue to come to train Pakistani troops. The US high officials have also confirmed the negotiations with the owner of Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar for its purchase. Jerrold Festaine, US deputy ambassador to Pakistan, has said in an interview to BBC that the work is in process in the US Consulate in Karachi for the last one year under the extension project; whereas, the negotiations are underway with the owner for the purchased of five star Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar. He further said that it was suggested to purchase Pearl Continental Hotel as it has all the necessities required for the extension project. The negotiations are still underway and no final decision has been taken yet; however, the negotiations can come to a purposive end. Eleven persons died and dozens were injured in an attack on Pearl Continental Hotel in June. In the meanwhile, the reports were coming to the fore that the United States is interested to purchase Pearl Continental Hotel for its Consulate. After the attack, the hotel was closed and its staff was rendered unemployed.

Jerrold Festaine said that the biggest of plans will be started in Islamabad for which some land has already been acquired and the negotiations are in progress to buy more. He further said that the embassy staff, which is currently approximately 250, will be doubled. He said that the number of the US troops, who will come to train the Pakistani military, is unknown, as they will continue to come and go. According to the US Embassy, the Pakistani staff working in the embassy is approximately 1,000, which will also be increased. In the meanwhile, a statement by the US ambassador came to the fore that the US Embassy has rented approximately 200 houses in Islamabad. Moreover, the statements are also coming to the fore that the personnel of private security agency Blackwater are residing in these houses. Now a company working with the name of Xe Services is, in fact, the Blackwater and this agency was working previously for the United States in Iraq. In response to the questions in this regard, Jerrold Festaine said: "It is not right that 200 or 250 houses have been rented; however, when the staff will increase, they will definitely need houses. As far as the security agency is concerned, for that, we have contacts with the security agencies in Pakistan. Similarly, we are negotiating with the US agencies." He did not rebut that the Blackwater security agency is being provided a contract in Pakistan. When he was asked what was the main reason for the extension of the project, he replied that the incumbent US Administration has increased its aid to Pakistan to a greater extent, which also includes (aid under) Kerry-Lugar Bill. Under this bill, many big development projects will be started here and they will require more staff for the supervision.

According to some reports, internationally notorious company "Blackwater" has rented many houses in the posh areas of Islamabad with the support of civil society organizations and has started recruiting former military officers and youngsters on very high salaries. These retired military officers are being paid $1,200 to $2,200 per month. This amount is five times more than the US troops get. After Peshawar, North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and tribal areas, the Blackwater has now arrived in Karachi. The major objectives of the Spider group, a subordinate organization of the Blackwater include, targeting important personalities of Pakistan; getting national secrets of Pakistan at any cost; destroying Al-Qa'ida and investigating its accounts, assets and sources of financial assistance, and providing security to the officials of international organizations, including US Agency for International Development (USAID).

According to the reports, the Blackwater works in collaboration with the US secret agencies, the FBI and CIA.

The Pakistani citizens are bewildered at the silence of the government over the Blackwater and its suspicious subordinate organizations' activities. The weapons recovered from the terrorists had also been provided by the Blackwater. Former US Vice President Dick Cheney is the incumbent president of this organization. The famous US writer Jeremy Scahill clearly writes in her book, Blackwater that the real purpose of this organization is to spread Christianity world over and to eliminate Islam. The media are continuously making us aware of the activities of the Blackwater. The Blackwater is now recruiting retired Pakistan military officers to achieve the US nefarious designs; whereas, 200 houses after renting at a high cost have been used for secret activities. The Blackwater, after the disclosure of its name, has continued its activities under a pseudonym. It seems a plan similar to the East India Company. The incidences, which have been reported to the police currently, and the way the personnel of this company are roaming around pretending themselves as the US officials, is quite suspicious. The silence government and relevant departments have kept on the activities of this organization should be broken and action should be taken against the Blackwater so that people are secured from the feelings of fear and threat. The government should adopt a clear stance in this regard.

According to some other reports, the US private investigation and nuclear security company "Wackenhut's" officials have been deployed in the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad and other cities. Four officials of this US company, Wackenhut, have been found involved in a clash with a common citizen at diplomatic enclave. In the federal capital -- Islamabad -- the US security company has deployed hundreds of security guards at different offices, residences, and embassies. The said company got itself registered in Pakistan as Wackenhut Pakistan Private Limited Company on 24 December 1992. Its registration was valid until 29 December 2007; after which no extension was demanded. The US security company, Wackenhut, provides nuclear industry security service, ambassadors' security service, VMT service, armed security, and emergency services. Its nuclear service division headquarters is situated at Palm Beach Garden in Florida. The Wackenhut controls the matters of security primarily and particularly investigation.

Any security company has to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Interior Ministry to start security operations in Pakistan, which requires documents, while registration at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the bank statement of only $18,194. After that, the NOC is issued within three to four months. According to a former ambassador, because of this easy way of registration of the security companies, dozens of companies, under different names and NGOs, have already established their offices in Pakistan. However, issuance of the NOC to any company providing nuclear security and investigation services is a suspicious matter; particularly in the context where our nuclear assets are a thorn in the Western countries eyes.

Nuclear Security and Investigation
Moreover, the propaganda of using these assets by terrorist is also being done continuously. In such situation, a company is continuing its operation, the registration of which has expired two years ago. Moreover, it also is a famous company for nuclear security and investigation. The question here is that why our security agencies are oblivious of this matter. Moreover, how a security company is continuing its work without extending its registration? The Unites States is surely monitoring our nuclear assets through this company and in order further expand this work; it has planned to turn its embassy into a mini cantonment and subprison. No other country of the world -- except Iraq where the US aggression is continuing -- has such a big embassy like the one is being constructed in Pakistan. All political parties have adopted a criminal silence over this situation. Only Jamaat-e-Islami has shown concern on this matter in "Go America Go" campaign few days ago.

The expansion of the US Embassy in Pakistan is the planning of bringing the lost war of Afghanistan into Pakistan and controlling it from here. All political parties and our leadership should seriously think over this matter. The Pakistani foreign minister has given the reason for the US Embassy's expansion that the United States is doing it for the long-term relations. The US Embassy is trying to dig its feet deep like the East India Company. The government must refuse to compromise on the sovereignty of the country in exchange of dollars and aid. Otherwise, horrific consequences can come to the fore.

The analysts are holding the Blackwater responsible for the attack on Marriot Hotel in Pakistan, which was using a large part of the hotel as its headquarters. Now, at last, the US newspapers have confirmed that the United States has signed an agreement with the Blackwater for its activities in Pakistan. Moreover, the company will end every anti-US person or group, which could include journalists, religious leaders, political leaders, and social workers. However, our leaders, political parties, and religious leaders are silent on this matter.

US Success in Afghanistan Becomes Grim

These days American politicians, think-tanks, newspapers, and journals are giving more importance to the Afghan war than to the one in Iraq. The debate on the Afghan war heated up after the recent analysis of General Stanley McChrystal, in which he said that the Afghan war was a difficult situation, but not impossible for the Americans to win. However, America will have to come up with a new policy for Afghanistan, in which the protection of Afghan civilians from the Taliban should be a number one priority.
According to General Stanley, rebuilding peoples' trust in the state is as important as protecting the civilian population from Taliban attacks. He is in favor of a dialogue with the Taliban, as well as increasing American troops in Afghanistan. General Stanley says that 60 per cent of the Taliban can be neutralized by offering them jobs.
Impact on US National Political Scene
Another senior American politician and former National Security Advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, who served as US President Barack Obama's advisor for international relations during his election campaign, has warned that if the American government does not make long lasting changes in its Afghan policy, America will meet the same fate in Afghanistan as the Soviet Union did. These analyses and opinions expressed by American politicians and commanders are being presented at a time when 51 per cent Americans feel there is no justification for fighting the Afghan war, while only 48 per cent think that President Obama was making the right decisions in Afghanistan. These opposing views and negative analyses originating from American politicians and commanders are having an impact on the American national political scene. This has raised a lot of questions for President Obama.
There are chances that support for the Afghan war in his own Democratic Party will go down and, that, he may have to rely on the opposition to send more troops to Afghanistan. The main factors which are increasing problems for Obama over the Afghan war include growing unpopularity of this war among the American public, a rising death toll of American troops, deterioration of the American economy; and lack of trust in the Afghan government by the Afghan masses and American policy-makers. Reports about election rigging in the recent Presidential polls have further lowered this trust.
Support for Afghan War
Support for the Afghan war among the Democratic Party has also gone down due to the absence of a timetable for the exit of American troops from Afghanistan, and a slow pace in training the Afghan National Army. Senior leaders in the Democratic Party, among them Senator Carl Levin, are pressurizing President Obama to ensure a clear training program for the Afghan Army before sending more American troops to Afghanistan.
The total strength of the current Afghan army is 134,000 and a deadline of 2012 has been fixed to take it up to 250,000. American politicians, analysts and intellectuals, all seem to be divided into two groups at the moment. One group believes that American troops in Afghanistan should be reduced and the war should be fought by using Predator Drone jets and other modern technology, while keeping a few soldiers on the ground. The other group believes that it would be impossible to win the Afghan war without the presence of American troops in Afghanistan. It believes it is imperative to increase American troops in Afghanistan to win the Afghan war.
Rise of Taliban
The rise in bloody attacks by the Taliban, despite additional American troops and an increase in the Afghan National Army, are a source of concern for Washington and a crucial test for American political leadership. Despite a regular increase in American troops, the activities of the Taliban have not slowed down.
So, what guarantee is there that the Taliban could be controlled with an increase in the number of American troops in Afghanistan? The group that opposes American exit from Afghanistan believes that such a move will not only adversely affect Afghanistan's security, but will also destabilize Pakistan and open up new hide-outs for Al Qaida in Pakistan's Tribal Areas.
Despite the increase in bloody attacks by the Taliban, the decrease in the production of opium in Afghanistan could definitely be used as a positive argument for continued American stay in Afghanistan. According to some American analysts, which include Seth Jones of the Rand Corporation, the major cause of failure of American policies in Afghanistan during the past eight years was Washington's over emphasis on setting up a strong central government in Kabul. Whereas Max Boot, of the Council on Foreign Relations, believes that America needs 660,000 soldiers in Afghanistan to defeat the Afghan Taliban, which is an unachievable target. However, this target could be achieved by recruiting a traditional army which is only possible if Washington forgets about concentrating all its energies on forming a strong central government in Kabul. Rather, it should focus on strengthening and organizing the various Afghan tribes in keeping with their local customs, is prepared to delegate authority and involve local communities in the process of development.
US Afghan Policy
The major benefit of this approach will be to decrease support for the Taliban among the local population, bearing in mind that it would be impossible to defeat the Taliban without the support of trained, armed and organized local groups. It is difficult to say to what extent this debate will affect America's Afghan policy.
However, one thing is certain that possible changes in America's regional policies are increasing with each passing day. Efforts are going on behind-the scenes to this effect. Some Afghan diplomats have also become active in this regard. We will talk about them next time.

Fighting Climate Change

UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon called a meeting of 100 heads of States and governments to prepare the ground for the conference on climate changes to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009. India's advice to the United States at the meeting to abandon its luxurious lifestyle and exercise restraint to save the world deserves wide acclaim.

India's Advice
Needless to say that such advice have hardly any effect on the United States or other rich countries. Satisfied with their own prosperity, these are countries that ought to take the climate change issue seriously. They must examine how ruthlessly they have exploited resources, and spoilt the climate and the world, and how they can now make amends.

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the inter-government panel on climate changes and Nobel laureate has also emphasized the need for the United States to change its lifestyle to fight climate changes. The United States accounts for 20 percent of the total greenhouse gas emission in the world. It consumes 12 percent of the world's bio-fuel. In this situation, it is only fair to expect the United States to come up with some strong measures.

Maintaining Fuel Capacity Standards
As far as India is concerned, it is accountable only for 5 percent of the total greenhouse gas emission. It has already started taking unilateral measures, without being asked, to overcome climate changes by 2020.

These include maintaining essential fuel capacity standards, taking initiative for durable energy, refined coal techniques, and for reduction of methane emission by dairy farms. At the same time, it cannot compromise with the country's development at any cost either.

Kyoto Protocol on Climate
As a matter of fact, the term of the "Kyoto Protocol" on climate will be over in 2012. The purpose of the Copenhagen summit is to reach an understanding that will take the place of the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse emission.

Since signs of a change in climate because of global warming are quite clear, it behooves all major countries to regard the world as a joint heritage and protect it. They should stop its temperature from rising any further.

India Launches Oceansat-2

It has not even been a month after Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) declaring its moon mission Chandrayaan-1 as over, but coming out of that dejection, it has added one more achievement to its credit. With the help of its powerful rocket PSLV, it has successfully launched its satellite named Oceansat-2 in space, along with six more nano-satellites of Europe. This remote sensing satellite will take the place of Oceansat-1, which has been working in space for the past 10 years. This was the 15th successful flight by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in a row.

Special Features
By placing with characteristics precision a satellite in an orbit of 728-km at a height of 40 km, the ISRO has made the country proud. Last year, the ISRO had launched 10 satellites in space simultaneously. Launching of seven satellites through the PSLV has followed this. These feats speak volumes about the ISRO.

Oceansat-2 could be useful in understanding the mood of oceans and forecasting weather. One special feature of Oceansat-2 is said to be of great help to fishermen. With the help of equipment on board this satellite, it would be possible to identify areas with large concentration of fish. With that information, fishermen would find their work made easy. What could be better than science making our day-to-day work easy in this manner? Until now, we see that useful information received from satellites and other very sensitive equipment or sources is not reaching the lowest level of population in an effective manner.

Useful for Agriculture Farming
The country has satellites and supercomputers capable of making accurate weather forecast, but even today, small farmers and fishermen are dependent on their common sense to guess changes in weather. People may be receiving warning about some big storm or cyclone through TV or radio, but the day-to-day information useful to agriculture farming is not reaching them. If fishermen going into sea to catch fish in their small dinghies do not get vital information from Oceansat, what is the use of such huge expense? It is issues like these that have created the dichotomy like Bharat and India.

It is praiseworthy that the country reaches the moon with the help of science, or our medical tourism sector grows, but it should also have its role in improving the lot of farmers. There should also be arrangements that poor people do not suddenly get infected by diseases like Encephalitis, and start dying. The objective of science is to make the life of humans easy, and it is the poor and farmers who need it most. The real benefit of Chandrayaan and Oceansat will be seen only when several disparities in the country and society are removed with their help.

Success for ISRO
The secret of ISRO's success is that it has changed the entire economics of satellite launching. Without compromising on quality, it had made preparations for launching at the lowest possible cost. Only China can compete with ISRO to some extent in this respect. But its rate of failure is higher than that of India. Brazil is also trying to follow this example, but it is still not experienced enough in this field.

First, the self-confidence that ISRO has demonstrated through successive and successful trials. This determination for meticulous planning has raised ISRO's image in the world for launching rockets successfully. In this respect, it is included among organizations whose rate of failure is perhaps the lowest. The satellite launched recently will, perhaps, put ISRO in the category of those launched by countries like Germany and Switzerland, or countries that are far more developed, modern, and prosperous than India.

Seen in this perspective, the ISRO can serve as a good model for the country's private and public sectors. It is an organization that did not lose heart even at a time when India was being denied necessary technology. It developed technology of international standards on its own with the help of domestic resources. The Soviet Union did certainly help in the beginning but later, ISRO had to depend on itself. Outside assistance cannot be relied upon in a sophisticated field like satellite technology. ISRO had understood this truth much earlier. As a result, it is now openly competing with world powers. Therefore, there is much to be learned from ISRO.

Pakistan-China Currency Swap Agreement

Negotiations over swap currency agreement between Pakistan and China, with a view to conduct mutual trade in Pakistani rupees and Chinese Yuan instead of dollars, are underway. The governor of the State Bank would shortly visit China to give final shape to this agreement. The sources have learned that diplomatic talks between both countries in this regard have been completed. Now the governor of the State Bank would visit China to discuss technical issues in this regard, in which implementation of the agreement would be reviewed.

Impact of Economic Recession
The United States is witnessing recession these days. Several major companies are running into losses and several banks have also defaulted. Therefore, the credibility of dollar at global level has been damaged. This is the reason that the prices of gold are on the rise in the international market.

Some economic experts have voiced their opinion that if such situation continues, the economic situation of the United States would get worse by 2015; rather it is likely to take a dangerous turn. According to a Russian economic expert, the United States would disintegrate into 15 states at that time around.

BRIC's Trade and Economic
Four countries are progressing in the economic field very fast at this time. The US investment bank, Goldman Sachs, has used the term BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) for these four countries. The reason is that these four countries have made a strong group in the field of trade and economic progress. The growth ratio of national product of Brazil is more than 5 percent.

Russia is the only country where most of the billionaires are residing now. The population of Russia is gradually decreasing and its per capita income is on the rise. India has increased its contacts with Europe, the United States, and China. Its trade volume is increasing with BRIC group. The trade volume between India and China is around $52 billion, while between China and the United States it is $333 billion. The foreign exchange reserves of China are around $ 1.9 trillion.

World Bank Report
A statement by the Chinese prime minister has been published in the US journal the Newsweek in its 30 March edition, in which he has expressed concern over recession in the United States and decline in its economic situation. He further added that China has lent loans to the United States and it is worried over the payment. The growth rate of the Chinese national product is around 7 percent, while that of the United States and Japan is 3 percent, respectively.

Moreover, the United States, which stood first in the World Bank, now stands at No 5; whereas, China that used to be on No 10, now stands at No 1. The said group of four countries is increasing trade and prefers local currencies instead of dollars for the trade business. Therefore, the mutual trade of the currency group of these countries has been detached from dollar, which has very healthy effects, while the future of dollar seems to be in jeopardy.

Long-Term Cooperation
Now China has conducted negotiations regarding a trade agreement to conduct trade in local currencies. If the currency swap agreement is inked between China and Pakistan, it would prove helpful for Pakistan in saving its foreign exchange reserves. The European Union countries are already trading in local currencies through euro. Pakistan should also increase its trade links with BRIC group. Pakistan has a trade agreement with China at this time around. However, the trade ratio between both countries is far less than that of between India and China. Similarly, the trade could not be increased with Russia as well. Therefore, currency swap agreement would prove useful for regional countries.

Dollar was badly defeated in the currency market on 10 September, while the value of euro was witnessed increasing from 1 to 3 percent. The countries dealing in euro currency are strengthening credibility of euro in the world for their business credibility. The United State is playing with gold market to keep dollar intact and developing countries are experiencing its adverse effects. The offer to ink swap currency agreement is a result of Pakistan-China friendship agreement, which would play an important role in Pakistan's economic and financial stability. This is also an open proof that China is a true friend of Pakistan.

US Decides To Withdraw Anti-Missile Plan

The US foreign policy led by President Barack Obama has gone through a spate of reversal. First, the US President announced the US intention to hold direct talks with North Korea. This is followed by urging France, Germany, United Kingdom, and Russia to work together and engage in talks with Iran, a country deemed by the United States as "axis of evil".

Obama's Annoucement
Now, President Obama has again announced that the United States will withdraw former US President Bush's proposal to establish the anti-Iran missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. However, President Obama's latest announcement on the withdrawal of the US missile defense system in Eastern Europe has immediately received a hostile reaction from the Republicans, including criticism of Senator McCain who was defeated by Obama during the presidential elections. These Republicans pointed directly to the fact that President Obama has betrayed US allies in order to please Russia.

As a result, the White House has also come up with an explanation quickly to explain that as a matter of fact, President Obama did not "abolish" this missile defense program, but instead it is President Obama's goal to replace this missile defense plan entirely with a new one.

Although the Obama government did not explain the type of new missile defense system it will use to replace the present missile defense system as proposed by former US President Bush, the US Government does say that it will replace it with a new system that has hundreds of missiles, mobile radar units, including the deployment of the radar in space, to protect the US troops and also the US allies in Europe. It added that ultimately, this new missile defense system to be deployed in Europe will also strengthen the US internal home security.

Iranian Nuclear Issue
President Obama also explained that he made this decision after accepting a congressional panel's discussion on the issue. President Obama said that according to the latest intelligence analysis, Iran's short range and medium-range missiles were most threatening. Obama's explanation is obviously saying that in the near future, Iran will not be able to obtain long-range missiles.

Although the Obama government did make clear that President Obama's decision to cancel the missile defense plan in East Europe has "nothing to do" with Russia, but it is an undisputable fact that to deter Teheran from moving toward its nuclear weapon research development, the United States must gain Russia's cooperation and support. Earlier, the United States has already hinted the possibility that the United States might abolish the US missile defense deployment in order to exchange from Moscow its promise for not selling Russia's advance missiles to Iran.

US-Russia Cooperation
In response, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev immediately welcomed President Obama's announcement. The decision by President Obama to withdraw its anti missile defense system in Europe can undeniably "warm up" the cool ties between Russia and the United States and can have some rebound effect on US-Russian bilateral ties.

However, whether the decision made by President Obama over the US antimissile plan in Europe can have a long-term and positive impact on the bilateral ties between Russia and the United States or not will still have to depend on how President Obama is going to handle NATO's eastward expansion issue. This is because all along, Russia has been worrying about that the influence of the United States and NATO's eastward expansion plan will spread to the Russian borders.

Disappointment for European Allies
As far as the European leaders are concerned, who have all along supported the US policy, President Obama's announcement to withdraw its anti missile defense plan is a "disappointment" or even an "embarrassment." To Poland and the Czech Republic, the two countries that can sense the direct impact as a consequent of President Obama's decision to withdraw its missile defense plan there, they are more concerned that others that the United States will eventually "reduce" the security commitments to them. All along, these two nations maintain that the US antimissile defense deployment in their countries is an indirect warning to Russia not to have any bad idea toward them.

The other former Eastern European countries such as Georgia and Ukraine, of course, have reason to worry too. They might wonder if it is because the United States wants to focus its attention to tackle the problems in North Korea, Iran, and Afghanistan that the United States has now ignored the US security commitments toward them.

UN General Assembly 2009

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is scheduled to hold a meeting on September 24 in a session which is to be led by President Obama. The prime focus of the meeting will be on arms control and disarmament, specifically within the nuclear context. The Obama Administration has already brought up a draft for a UNSC resolution on Nuclear Nonproliferation and the Nuclear Disarmament.

However, ironically, the Obama draft has several crucial elements reflecting the George W. Bush Administration's line of thought. We should not be surprised much, given how many of the emerging foreign and security policies of the Obama Administration seem more and more like an extension of the Bush policies -- particularly with regard to Afghanistan, Pakistan and nuclear proliferation. In the latter context, despite rhetoric to the contrary, the Obama Administration has gone along with the Bush's policy of fast-tracking a US sponsored draft of a Fissile Material Control Treaty (FMCT) in the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva.

Demand of Significant Countries
The problem, here, is that this draft fails to include some of the basic points demanded by most of the other significant countries, including China and Pakistan. For instance, the US draft overlooks provisions for a verification structure regarding fissile material stockpiles. Instead, it cites only for national technical means of verification.

Now Pakistan has, in the first place, learnt the hard way that without verification provisions, international agreements relating to weapon material stockpiles are unreliable. After all, in spite of a bilateral Pakistan-India treaty relating to chemical weapons, Pakistan was duped by India until the multilateral Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) revealed Indian stockpiles of these weapons -- which India had informed Pakistan that India had already destroyed them! Nor does the US draft FMCT deal with Preventing an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) a major issue with China. However, for the US with its Ballistic Missile Defense program (BMDP), PAROS is not at all a priority.We have seen the Obama Administration recognize the need for safeguards; however, it is not prepared to alter the Bush-introduced FMCT draft. Possibly, the most critical issue for Pakistan is that there is no provision for reduction of existing stockpiles, without which an FMCT would keep Pakistan in a permanent disadvantage. Despite all these adverse constituents, Pakistan is being pushed into accepting the US-drafted FMCT without movement on the related issues. It indeed is against the international consensus achieved in the Shannon Mandate.Hence, in the forthcoming session of the UNSC, doubtlessly we are going to see Obama push the US draft resolution on nuclear proliferation through.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Issue
However, this would be detrimental for certain countries like Pakistan for the reason that some of the clauses in the US draft are deliberate attempts to politicize technical nonproliferation issues, by widening the scope of the UNSC and reducing the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) despite the fact of the independent El Baradei's departure and the coming of a US-compliant Director General at the IAEA. Those amongst the clauses that are of concern are Articles1 and 2. The Article 1 is a dangerous clause because it seeks to bring nuclear matters, which normally come under the IAEA, to the UNSC, thereby politicizing them and offering the UNSC a wider scope of punitive action. In fact, such a clause will prevent the IAEA from seeking compromise solutions through a technical focus and an apolitical approach -- something El Baradei tried to maintain vis-à-vis Iran, despite the enormous US pressure. Moreover, this clause would encourage, too, powerful states like the US to politicize genuinely technical issues in order to punish hostile states.

However, Article 2 presents indirectly an absurd interpretation of the Article IV of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by demanding that states comply fully with their NPT obligations but that the benefits of the NPT were conditional with such compliance. There is, in fact, no conditionality factor present in Article IV which is supposed to offer civilian nuclear technology to NPT members as well as allowing them equal rights to develop civil nuclear technology.On the whole, the US draft resolution for the UNSC is wrought with the same problems that surfaced in the Bush Administration's approach to nuclear non-proliferation. It tries to bring in the terrorism issue into the nuclear ambit despite the fact that terrorists do not need to acquire nuclear weapons to implement their agendas.

Para 16 of the preamble is interesting because it talks of a grievous concern over the "threat of nuclear terrorism, including provision of nuclear material or technical assistance for the purpose of terrorism". Pakistan should be wary of this as it will be used against the country and its scientists, particularly Dr A Q Khan. The US has tried so many different tacks to get access to Dr Khan, and this is bound to be another stick with which to beat Pakistan and Dr Khan.The constant US refrain of a nuclear terrorist attack on the US homeland from our part of the world, is so ridiculous that one cannot seriously discuss it. It is sufficient to say that how would a terrorist, with a nuclear device or even material, transport it across the ocean to the US? Would he parcel it to an accomplice and hope the radioactivity would go unnoticed through all the multiple security checks? Or would he carry it on his person and hope no one would detect it? No. If there were to be an act of nuclear terrorism in the US, it would have to be carried out from within the US -- where nuclear security is a major issue. Not only have there been nuclear material leaks at power plants; the US Air Force temporarily lost live nuclear weapons as recently as 2007. So much has taken place despite stable command and control structures!Unfortunately, the Obama draft ignores the real security concern regarding nuclear issues. This is the safety of nuclear installations in terms of leakages and missing fissile material. The most abysmal record on this count is that of Japan, Russia and India, while the US has been proliferating to Israel for decades now.

Security Factor
Japan has one of the most developed civil nuclear programs in the world and has caused concern in its neighborhood with a moot reprocessing plant and with the accidents at its nuclear plants.
With the end of the Soviet Union, there has been a spate of reports dealing with stolen Russian and Ukrainian uranium being sold in the black market. Reports have also been published of missing radioactive material in India. Therefore, in this state of affairs if the Obama Administration really wanted to zero in on the security factor in the nuclear domain, it would have focused more on nuclear safety and less on nuclear terrorism -- which, while it can never be cast out as a concern, is not rationally a viable one at present.

However, it does have abundant political mileage which the US and its allies never tire of exploiting.All in all, it is unfortunate to see Obama's electoral rhetoric on nonproliferation dissipate so quickly -- just as his rhetoric on the so-called war on terror has slipped into Bush gear!