Deepening International Economic Crisis

The crisis of capitalist system is rapidly increasing. The US economy is the backbone of the capitalist system. The United States is feeling it difficult to maintain this system. The economic rating of the United States has declined for the first time in the history. I will not try to make difficult my point of view through statistics and terminology. It is a simple thing that now the United States as state has nothing. The national growth and state loans have become equal. The annual national growth of the United States was $14.8 trillion and loan was $14.6 trillion. It means that the United States as leader of the capitalist system of the world has become debtor. The state has nothing to provide to its masses.
Obama’s Efforts
US President Barack Obama has struck a deal with Republican Party and decided to increase volume of state loans but the growth could not protect to the extra state loans. Although China has gathered lots of dollars yet the internal differences in the Chinese economy and like capitalist countries, Chinese development benefits are limited only to the upper class.
During the past three years, there were a large numbers of strikes in the history of China. A major part of Chinese foreign exchange income has been due to trade with the United States. However, now, the United States may not be able to purchase a large number of items which put direct impact on Chinese exports.
State of Allied Countries
The condition of the allied countries of the United States, which have capitalist system, is not good. The western media has always tried to hide the demerits and weakness of the capitalist system but now it has become impossible to conceal news in this regard as the disease has worsened. The economic condition of Greece has also become worst. There is shortage of resources with allied countries to steer Greece out of this economic crisis. This situation would also affect United States to a greater extent since it is not a welfare state.
The so-called reliefs to the common people which was being provided has become just nominal after the 80s decade. The welfare states of the Europe are facing problems to provide facilities to their people. For the first time, the demonstrations were held against economic problems in the United Kingdom. The capacity of the people to pay loan of the banks is declining day by day. The source was found to boost the industries through banks loans and plastic money, which now has put greater burden on the people and now they are unable to pay it. So, the demand is increasing in Britain that the banks should share the burden of the loans as they get so much income and the people have little capacity to pay it. Italy is sinking in the economic problems and it will be the next European country to become target of the economic crisis after Greece.
Impact on India
India which was being considered a fast growing developed country has failed to introduce practicable capital distribution system although the middle class achieved opportunities of growth in capital productions which helped in the running of trade and industries there. However, the majority of Indian population is quickly going down the line of poverty and more than 800 million people are living in a very miserable condition. The ruling circles of India are involved in corruption. At the moment, not only the governments are under pressure but all the political parties are also facing crisis.
The opposition pressure is mounting on the government of Congress in India. No one could object to the honesty and character of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but now he too is facing demands of resignations on account of allegations of corruption. The opposition is not leveling any allegation against his personality and they are saying that he is responsible for the corruption committed by his cabinet ministers and thus he should resign. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has forced one of its chief ministers to step down to increase pressure on the Congress government as he was involved in a big corruption scandal. The BJP is also not different from others with regard to corruption. The BJP ministers were involved in corruption, which was unearthed after the Kargil war. But then the pressure of the masses was not so strong against the corruption.
However, now, keeping in view the pressure of the people, the BJP has sacrificed one of its chief ministers to justify launching of campaign against corruption and making preparations to put Congress under pressure. The chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh belong to regional parties and their governments were badly involved in the corruption whereas the situation of other states is also not different.
Declining Pakistan’s Economic Resources
The Pakistani economy is depending on capitalist system and the United States, its allies and their controlled financial institutions are providing most of our economic resources. However, the United States and its allies which themselves are facing crises could not provide any more help to Pakistan. Britain itself is failing to satisfy its people and its top priority would be its own people and it is not in a position to provide loans and aid to Pakistan. The United States already is avoiding to provide two-third of the assistance allocated for Pakistan. Similarly, it would be wastage of time to expect more aid from the United States. The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Asian Development Bank can provide loans on strict conditions and their strictness would increase for the return of the loans. The war on terror has been imposed on us. No other power of the world is ready to share with us the burden of the expenditures of the war against the terrorism. The resources would not allow if any government will want to help Pakistan in this regard. The foreign reserves which are being maintained through loans have become doubtful now after the declining rate of the dollar and this fund of reserves could not go along with us for a long time.
Moreover, there is very little chance to increase income through exports. The Pakistani staying aboard could not save more in this present circumstances as their expenditures would increase to reduce the amount which they are sending to their kith and kin in Pakistan. Recently, a delegation of Pakistani traders had warned the government to avoid holding of foreign exchange in the shape of dollars and transfer the foreign exchange in other currencies, if it is possible, as the crisis of dollars would not be affordable for Pakistan.

Withdrawal of US Forces From Afghanistan May Put Pakistan at Risk

The tragedy of the Pakistani rulers and leaders is that while in power they say something and after being ousted from power they go abroad and their rhetoric undergoes a change. When Benazir Bhutto was the prime minister, she often issued "anti-India" statements and like her father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, she had been harping on the Kashmir issue.

While in power she never uttered a world against hardliners and fanatic elements that dominated the whole of Pakistan. After losing power, she lived abroad on deportation. She would tell the media in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Dubai that normalization of relations between India and Pakistan was extremely imperative for peace in South Asia. Prior to the last elections in Pakistan when she returned home, she addressed foreign journalists and said she was extremely critical of militants, describing them as fatal for the region.

Present Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, during his foreign tours, made similar statements against the Taliban and other extremists. But when back in his country, he gives "anti-India" statements and blames India for terrorist activities and gives a clean chit to the main conspirator of the Mumbai attack, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is the only Pakistani ruler who perceived the ground realities and took practical steps to improve relations between India and Pakistan and invited former Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to Lahore. A resolve was taken to settle the Kashmir problem and other bilateral issues through talks. But Musharraf, who was the Pakistani Army chief, started the Kargil war and upset the peace efforts.

Support to Militant Organizations
Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf captured power through a military coup. He instigated the Taliban government in Afghanistan and extended patronage to Al-Qa'ida and other anti-India organizations during his term as Pakistan president. The attacks on the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly and the Indian Parliament were carried out during his term.

The Pakistani intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), extended full support to militant organizations and the Taliban in Afghanistan were provided directions by the Pakistani military officers. Then, Musharraf's intention was to achieve access to the Middle East via Afghanistan. Yet, his game was spoiled due to the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. He was constrained to join the global war on terror when Bush reprimanded him. Under the UN pressure, he had to rein in militant outfits. But, even thereafter, Musharraf continued to play double games.

While the ISI and the Pakistani military bolstered the Taliban, organizations such as the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba went on with their activities by changing their names. Musharraf remained in a mode of denial of the existence of militant training camps on the Pakistani soil and the infiltration along the border with India, but simultaneously went ahead with bolstering militants. So far so, Musharraf received US aid to the tune of billions of dollars. It was during his term that the leaders of the United States and other countries of the world termed Pakistan as a nursery of terrorism.
Change of Power in Pakistan
Finally, in the wake of change in power in Pakistan, Musharraf had to flee to the United Kingdom and now the possibility of his return to Pakistan is ruled out. After meeting journalists in foreign countries, Musharraf has now realized the stark reality and in a statement in Washington recently, he said, "President Obama Barack administration has reportedly planned to withdraw forces from Afghanistan within a year but there is no truth in that.

For peace and stability in the region it is imperative to defeat the Taliban and the continued presence of the US forces is extremely essential to crush the Taliban there." It is the first time that Musharraf has spoken the right thing in no uncertain terms.

Taliban suicide attacks in Afghanistan are causing huge loss of life and property. If the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces withdraw from Afghanistan without the elimination of the Taliban and Al-Qa'ida, the very survival of Pakistan and Afghanistan will be jeopardized and peace and stability in the region will be shattered, thereby creating a serious threat to the whole world.

India’s Firm Policy on Nuclear Non-Proliferation

Reiterating its stand on nuclear non-proliferation, India has once again declared that it will not sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Pressure has been consistently brought upon India to affix its signature on the CTBT, but India stuck to its stand that unless and until nuclear weapons are destroyed it will not sign any such treaty. India has now clarified it to Japan that it will consider signing the CTBT only after the United States and China sign the same.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated India's stand to Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama during his recently concluded India visit. He was speaking to journalists after exchanging views with him on nuclear non-proliferation and civilian nuclear agreements. He further clarified that India, for the sake of universal welfare, is willing to side with Japan and other like-minded nations but the pressure being brought on it to sign the CTBT was not acceptable to it. He said: "Our policy on this subject is fully clear and we continue to be firm on it."

Commitment to Self-Imposed Restriction
The Japanese prime minister said that nothing can be said on the differences between the countries over the CTBT now. He, however, expressed the hope that India would also join the United States in becoming a signatory to the treaty. Sooner or later, such a hope can be entertained. Here its needs to be noted that in the wake of Singh's statement urging the United States and China to sign the treaty, Yukio Hatoyama observed: "This would lead to the emergence of a fresh scenario. I feel this is true also. We honor India's commitment to the self-imposed restriction regarding the nuclear proliferation."
Lauding the Indian approach on the nuclear non-proliferation, the Japanese prime minister commented that India had a highly commendable track record. Prior to it, Singh made it fully clear to him that India was constrained to tread the path of making nuclear weapons in 1998, keeping in view the then prevalent conditions in the context of the global scenario. The Indian Government exercised restraint for a long time with regard to nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, India had to take to the course of making nuclear weapons for self-defense for the surrounding countries had already started treading such a path.
In 1998 India tested a nuclear explosion. Prior to it, it clarified its policy that in case all nuclear-weapon countries destroy their nuclear weapons then India will not take to this course. When none of the nuclear weapon country agreed to do so then it became imperative for India not to sign the CTBT for the sake of its self-defense.

Proxy War From Kashmir Border
India's neighboring countries, Pakistan and China, are in possession of vast stockpiles of nuclear weapons. India always made all out endeavors to maintain cordial relations with neighboring nations, yet the fact remains that these very countries launched invasions on India. China carried out an aggression against India in 1962 and occupied the entire Tibet region by capturing it. Likewise, in 1965 and 1971, Pakistan fought two full-fledged direct wars against India, in addition to the Kargil War. Pakistan persists with its almost regular proxy war from the Kashmir border. Under the circumstances, it became imperative for India to make nuclear weapons and it did so as well. Now that pressure is being brought on India to sign the CTBT, how can it do so as long as superpowers such as the United States and China do not sign it?
Now, in the context of the sanctions imposed by Japan in the high technology trade with India, the Japanese prime minister said talks had been held with India on the issue and something positive was certain to emerge in the near future. Consensus has been reached to enhance security cooperation and an official-level meeting will be held soon. Hence, it can be hoped that China, appreciating the Indian viewpoint, will value the Indian policy and mindset. However, future alone will unfold the policy to be adopted by China toward India.