The Hindu : Dangerous doctrine

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Dangerous doctrine

Sir, — This refers to your Editorial, `A dangerous doctrine' (April 7). Though the U.S. President, George W. Bush, has launched a war on Iraq, we cannot compare the Iraq situation with that of Kashmir.

Launching pre-emptive strikes on Pakistan will be suicidal. Our leaders' speeches in this regard lack wisdom.

If Pakistan goes on inciting violence in Kashmir, one day it will meet its nemesis.

K. Ramachandran,

Usilampatti, T.N.

* * *

Sir, — This is with reference to the threats by the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, and the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, of pre-emptive strike on Pakistan. Can persons in responsible positions issue such a statement, especially when Pakistan is not Iraq and India is not U.S.?

Can they visualise the magnitude of destruction that such a pre-emptive strike would bring to the inhabitants of both countries? Or is it just part of the vote-fetching strategy of the BJP for the coming elections?

Alternatively, could the Indian strategy be to force Pakistan into issuing dangerous statements threatening the use of nuclear weapons in a war against India?

India wants the international powers to believe that Pakistani WMDs are in irresponsible hands that could initiate a nuclear holocaust in the sub-continent.

The Pakistan Information Minister, Sheikh Rashid, while playing to the gallery has unwittingly also played into the hands of Mr. Sinha.

Let us not provide the international powers with an excuse of even thinking in terms of controlling the nuclear capabilities of India and Pakistan, let alone destroying them.

Riaz Jafri,

Rawalpindi, Pakistan

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