India Mulls 'Pre-Emptive' Pakistan Strike

[Guest MrRant]

JODHPUR, India (AFP) - Defence Minister George Fernandes reiterated Indian warnings that Pakistan was a prime case for pre-emptive strikes.

 

"There are enough reasons to launch such strikes against Pakistan, but I cannot make public statements on whatever action that may be taken," Fernandes told a meeting of ex-soldiers in this northern Indian desert city on Friday.

 

The renewed warning came just hours after US Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said Washington would strive to cool tensions between nuclear enemies Pakistan and India, who have fought three wars since 1947.

 

Fernandes said he endorsed Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha's recent comments that India had "a much better case to go for pre-emptive action against Pakistan than the United States has in Iraq (news - web sites)."

 

Sinha also argued that Pakistan was "a fit case" for US military action, because it had weapons of mass destruction and terrorists.

 

Fernandes also rejected Pakistani allegations that India had breached United Nations (news - web sites) Security Council resolutions from 1948 to 1957 which call for a plebiscite among Kashmiris to choose rule by India or Pakistan.

 

"Pakistan has a habit of lying and the issue of cross-border terrorism is a serious issue," Fernandes said.

 

India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Muslim militants in Kashmir (news - web sites). Islamabad denies the charge but says it offers moral and political support to what it describes as Kashmiris' legitimate struggle for self-expression.

 

Around 38,000 people have died in Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state, since the launch of the armed insurgency by Islamic guerrillas in 1989 in the Himalayan territory.

 

Pakistan and India both claim the scenic region, which is divided between them by a ceasefire line known as the Line of Control, with Pakistan controlling the northern part and India the south.

[Guest Vitamin X]

"Come on America!!! It's only 2 countries east of you, you can do it while you're still around here can't you?"

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

China some months ago: If the USA can label people they don't liek as terrorists so can we.

North Korea last week: From now on we ignore all UN resolutions because the USA does so too

India this week: We consider the Iraq war as a valid precendence for pre-emptive strikes without UN approval

 

Anyhoo, India won't nuke first. The fallout will blow in their direction, plus they need their nukes to deter China from pretty much coming by and raping them.

[Guest Powerplay]

China some months ago: If the USA can label people they don't liek as terrorists so can we.

North Korea last week: From now on we ignore all UN resolutions because the USA does so too

India this week: We consider the Iraq war as a valid precendence for pre-emptive strikes without UN approval

 

Anyhoo, India won't nuke first. The fallout will blow in their direction, plus they need their nukes to deter China from pretty much coming by and raping them.

If anyone has any mind at all they won't light off a nuke. I wouldn't be concerned about the U.S. reaction, but the Russian reaction. They have hundreds of nukes aimed at various places and I'm sure if one was lit off somewhere Russia would just start lighting them off at anything that could be a threat.

 

Didn't North Korea already ignore a Anti-ICBM treaty to get their nuclear weapons? Why do I think that they don't care about the UN much anyways...

[Guest Mad Dog]

I don't think North Korea or China started ignoring the U.N. b/c we did it.

 

Both of them have been doing things under the table for awhile now.

[Guest cartman]

Under the table, for sure.

 

We just made it A-O-K to come out of the closet with it because we started it. It's a chain reaction. Can't wait to see the fireworks!

[Guest phoenixrising]

Yup, now that the world's only remaining superpower decided to tell the UN to shove it and invade Iraq, now everyone else is going to say "Look, they did it, so can we!!!".

 

India/Pakistan is really deadly. Two countries that hate each other's guts, a disputed province that has led to wars and ICBM's does not make for a good situation there.

[Guest TheMikeSC]

Yup, now that the world's only remaining superpower decided to tell the UN to shove it and invade Iraq, now everyone else is going to say "Look, they did it, so can we!!!".

 

India/Pakistan is really deadly. Two countries that hate each other's guts, a disputed province that has led to wars and ICBM's does not make for a good situation there.

The US did the right thing, so if others wish to do something stupid on our coattails, it is hardly our fault.

 

However, if these two countries wish to go to war --- let them. The moment nukes come into play, it affects others and THEN outside forces should enter the fray.

 

Until nukes are SERIOUSLY threatened, though, let them fight. Heck, let them eliminate one another's nuclear capacity.

-=Mike

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Honestly I'm not worried about India or Pakistan. Since both have nuclear weapons, I don't think either one would be willing to take that big a risk and launch a preemptive strike against the other.